(yǐn) - to drink & beverages

Tone 3

yǐn | 7 strokes | radical: 饣

· yǐn

to drink;

beverages;

to swallow;

to keep in the heart (as in grief or resentment)

to drinkbeveragesto swallow

Usage highlights

to drink waterto drink alcoholbeverageto drink teadrinking fountainto nurse a grievance

Synonyms

  • to drink (more colloquial)
  • to swallow
  • to suck, to absorb

Antonyms

  • to spit out
  • to vomit

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I drink water (饮水).
  • We had a drink together (饮酒).
  • This is a beverage (饮料).
  • He swallowed his anger (饮恨).

Collocations

  • to drink water(饮水)
  • to drink alcohol(饮酒)
  • beverage(饮料)
  • to drink tea(饮茶)
  • drinking fountain(饮水机)
  • to nurse a grievance(饮恨)

Idioms

  • Drink to one's heart's content(开怀畅饮)
  • Swallow one's anger(饮泣吞声)
  • Drink from a gourd dipper(箪食瓢饮)
  • Drink the north wind(饮西北风)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, drinking (especially tea and alcohol) carries rich social and ritual significance.
  • The character appears in many idioms related to enduring hardship or suppressing emotions.
  • Tea drinking culture (饮茶文化) is an important part of Chinese daily life and social etiquette.

FAQ