noun / measure word HSK 2
bottle · vase · jar
Meaning
瓶 refers to a container with a narrow neck used for holding liquids or other substances. It can be made of glass, plastic, or ceramic. As a measure word, it quantifies the contents of bottles.
Usage
瓶 is commonly used both as a standalone noun meaning 'bottle' and as a measure word (classifier) for bottled items like water, wine, or medicine. Native speakers frequently use it in everyday contexts like shopping, dining, and describing containers. It pairs with 一 (yī) to mean 'one bottle of.'
Examples
- 01请给我一瓶矿泉水。.Please give me a bottle of mineral water.
- 02桌子上有一个漂亮的花瓶。.There is a beautiful vase on the table.
Measure words
- 个三个瓶子
Common collocations
- 一瓶水a bottle of water
- 瓶子bottle (colloquial form)
- 酒瓶wine bottle
- 花瓶vase, flower vase
Origin
The character 瓶 combines the radical 瓦 (wǎ, tile/pottery) indicating ceramic material, suggesting its original reference to clay vessels and containers.