杯
- cup;
- goblet;
- vessel for drinking;
Etymology
Phono-semantic compound:
木 (나무 목) — semantic, indicating an object made of wood (as early cups were).
不 (아닐 불) — phonetic, giving the sound 배 (bēi).
Originally, 杯 referred to wooden drinking vessels, used in rituals and daily life.
Over time, its meaning extended to any kind of cup or glass regardless of material.
Usage in Korean
우승컵 (優勝杯) — victory cup, trophy
건배 (乾杯) — toast; “cheers”
배수 (杯水) — a cup of water
한잔 (一杯) — a drink, often of alcohol
Words that derived from 杯
Additional notes
In East Asian poetry and philosophy, 杯 (the cup) symbolizes ephemeral joy, shared emotion, and human transience.
From the Book of Odes (詩經) to Tang and Joseon literati poetry, the act of raising a cup often signifies:
Friendship and communion — “같이 한 잔 나누다” (share a drink together) represents trust and fellowship.
Impermanence and melancholy — a cup of wine marks fleeting happiness or the brevity of life, as in Li Bai’s verses:
“人生得意須盡歡，莫使金樽空對月”
When life is at its height, drink fully—never let the golden cup face the moon empty.
“對酒當歌，人生幾何”
Facing wine, I sing; how brief is life — Cao Cao, 《短歌行》
Ritual remembrance — libations poured from the cup to honor ancestors or departed friends.
Inner reflection — in Zen and Confucian imagery, the empty cup becomes a metaphor for humility and receptivity.
In Korean cultural context, the phrase “한 잔의 인생” (one cup of life) poetically frames existence as a brief moment of savoring and sharing, aligning with Buddhist and Confucian reflections on impermanence and gratitude.
Alternative forms
The variant 盃 later arose with 皿 (“dish”) added for semantic clarity, emphasizing “vessel.”
In modern usage:
Mainland China: 杯 is the standard form.
Taiwan & Hong Kong: 盃 is treated as the orthodox form.
Simplified Chinese: 桮 is occasionally used as a simplified variant.
