The Meaning of sakazuki [杯] In Japanese

杯
さかずき
Romaji: sakazuki N5

What does 杯 mean?

Translation and Meaning

cup, cupful, counter for cups

Definition

杯 means a cup or cupful and functions as a counter for drinks served in cups. In everyday Japanese it can denote the physical cup as an object or the amount served, typically used after a numeral to count beverages.

Type

Noun (counter)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • cup as a drinking vessel
  • an amount equal to one cup; used as a quantity after a numeral
  • the unit used to count glasses or cups of beverages

Etymology

Phonetic evolution The kanji 杯 derives from the older form 盃 and carries the same meaning of a cup; the primary on’yomi is はい (hai), borrowed from Chinese bei, while kun’yomi includes さかずき (sakazuki) referring to the cup itself.

Usage

Used after a numeral to indicate cups of beverages, especially tea, water, or sake, and to refer to the physical cup in menus or descriptions. In formal writing, it appears as a precise measurement; in casual speech it appears in everyday counting of drinks.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: Picture a cup-shaped kanji ready to be filled; associate the word with ippai (one cup) to remember that 杯 is used for counting cups and cupfuls.

Variations

  • cup as vessel — さかずき (sakazuki)
  • counter reading — はい (hai)

Words with the same Kanji

Example Phrases

  • 今日の 目的は 仕事前に コーヒーを 一杯 飲むことだ。
    Kyou no mokuteki wa shigoto mae ni kōhī o ippai nomu koto da.
    Today’s goal is to drink a cup of coffee before work.
    Lista:
    • 今日の (kyou no) – today’s
    • 目的は (mokuteki wa) – the purpose is
    • 仕事前に (shigoto mae ni) – before work
    • コーヒーを (kōhī o) – coffee
    • 一杯 (ippai) – a cup
    • 飲むことだ (nomu koto da) – to drink
    The word 「目的」 means ‘purpose’ and here acts as the topic of the sentence with は; the following clause states the goal to be achieved.
  • 友人と 居酒屋で 乾杯した 後、 会話が 盛り上がった。
    Yūjin to izakaya de kanpai shita ato, kaiwa ga moriagatta.
    After toasting at an izakaya with a friend, the conversation got lively.
    Lista:
    • 友人と (yūjin to) – with a friend
    • 居酒屋で (izakaya de) – at an izakaya
    • 乾杯した (kanpai shita) – toasted
    • 後 (ato) – after
    • 会話が (kaiwa ga) – conversation
    • 盛り上がった (moriagatta) – got lively
    「乾杯」 significa ‘cheers’ ou ‘to toast’; neste contexto funciona como um substantivo que se usa com する para formar o verbo 乾杯した.
  • 今朝、 眠気が 「覚める」 ときに 私は コーヒーを 一杯 飲む。
    Kesa, nemuke ga sameru toki ni watashi wa kōhī o ippai nomu.
    This morning, when my sleepiness clears, I drink a cup of coffee.
    Lista:
    • 今朝、 (kesa) – this morning
    • 眠気が (nemuke ga) – sleepiness
    • 「覚める」 (sameru) – (target) wake up
    • ときに (toki ni) – when
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • コーヒーを (kōhī o) – coffee
    • 一杯 (ippai) – a cup
    • 飲む。 (nomu) – drink
    覚める is an intransitive verb meaning ‘to wake up/clear (sleepiness)’; here 眠気が覚める with が as the subject; ときに marks ‘at the time when’; note the target word is written as 「覚める」.
  • 知り合い の 店で 偶然 会い、 コーヒー を 一杯 奢って もらった。
    shiriai no mise de guuzen ai, koohii wo ippai ogotte moratta.
    I ran into an acquaintance at their shop and was treated to a cup of coffee.
    Lista:
    • 知り合い (shiriai) – acquaintance
    • の (no) – of
    • 店で (mise de) – at the shop
    • 偶然 (guuzen) – by chance
    • 会い、 (ai,) – meet,
    • コーヒー (koohii) – coffee
    • を (wo) – (object marker)
    • 一杯 (ippai) – a cup
    • 奢って (ogotte) – treated
    • もらった (moratta) – received
    Brief: 「知り合い」 means an acquaintance; 「知り合いの店で」 shows possession and location; 「奢ってもらった」 expresses being treated by someone.
  • 会社帰りに友達と居酒屋で一杯しよう。
    Kaisha-gaeri ni tomodachi to izakaya de ippai shiyou.
    Let’s have a drink with friends after work at an izakaya.
    Lista:
    • 会社帰り (kaisha-gaeri) – after-work
    • に (ni) – to/at
    • 友達 (tomodachi) – friend
    • と (to) – with
    • 居酒屋 (izakaya) – izakaya
    • で (de) – at
    • 一杯 (ippai) – one drink
    • しよう (shiyou) – let’s
    Aqui, 一杯 usa 「杯」 como contador de bebidas; 一杯 = uma bebida.
杯