Korean · Food & Drink
"Tea" in Korean: 차
차cha
Tea in Korean is 차 (cha). 차 can mean tea or a car; the drinking context distinguishes the meanings.
A drink order
차를 한 잔 마시고 싶어요.chareul han jan masigo sipeoyo.
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How to pronounce 차
Say it
cha
/tɕʰa/
차 (cha) has 1 Hangul syllable. 차 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
"Tea" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 차cha | Tea Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 녹차nokcha | green tea A useful combination with 차. | A useful combination with 차. |
| 차를chareul | Tea (as an object) Use 를 when 차 is the object of an action. | Use 를 when 차 is the object of an action. |
How to use 차 in real life
- 1A drink order
차를 한 잔 마시고 싶어요.
chareul han jan masigo sipeoyo.
I would like to drink a glass of tea.
차를 uses 를 to mark an object.
- 2Checking the temperature
이 차가 너무 뜨거워요.
i chaga neomu tteugeowoyo.
This tea is too hot.
차가 marks 차 as the subject.
- 3Asking for a refill
차가 더 있어요?
chaga deo isseoyo?
Is there any more tea?
차가 marks 차 as the subject.
Mistakes English speakers make with 차
Incorrect: 차을 한 잔 마시고 싶어요.
Correct: 차를 한 잔 마시고 싶어요.
When practicing tea, use the correct particle or copula after 차; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 차이에요.
Correct: 차예요.
When practicing tea, when identifying something as 차, use 차예요. The vowel-final noun takes 예요 directly.
Good to know
차 can mean tea or a car; the drinking context distinguishes the meanings. The combination 녹차 (nokcha) means green tea.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led food and drink study exercise: two sentences with 차
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
차를 한 잔 마시고 싶어요.
chareul han jan masigo sipeoyo.
I would like to drink a glass of tea.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
이 차가 너무 뜨거워요.
i chaga neomu tteugeowoyo.
This tea is too hot.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Tea" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Tea" in Korean
What does 차 mean in Korean?
Tea in Korean is 차 (cha). 차 can mean tea or a car; the drinking context distinguishes the meanings.
How do I use 녹차?
녹차 (nokcha) means green tea. 차 can mean tea or a car; the drinking context distinguishes the meanings.
Which object particle goes after 차?
Use 를: 차를. For example, 차를 한 잔 마시고 싶어요. means “I would like to drink a glass of tea.”
How is 차 pronounced?
차 (cha) has 1 Hangul syllable. 차 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
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