How to Say “Hot tea” in Chinese
Food and dining · HSK 2
"Hot tea" in Chinese is 热茶 (rè chá). 热茶 is the default in China; most restaurants bring a pot of hot tea or plain hot water (热水 rè shuǐ) before you even order, and it's usually free. Ordering iced drinks with meals is unusual; older Chinese believe cold drinks harm the stomach (伤胃 shāng wèi), especially during or after a meal.
Primary translation
热茶
rè chá
Traditional: 熱茶
When to use it
热茶 is the default in China; most restaurants bring a pot of hot tea or plain hot water (热水 rè shuǐ) before you even order, and it's usually free. Ordering iced drinks with meals is unusual; older Chinese believe cold drinks harm the stomach (伤胃 shāng wèi), especially during or after a meal. If you want a specific kind, say 一壶热茶 (yì hú rè chá, 'a pot of hot tea'); 壶 hú is the measure word for pots. In Cantonese-speaking areas, tea culture is even stronger: dim sum is literally 'drinking tea' (饮茶 yǐn chá).
Example sentences
来一壶热茶，谢谢。
Lái yì hú rè chá, xièxie.
A pot of hot tea, please.
你们这里有什么热茶？
Nǐmen zhèlǐ yǒu shénme rè chá?
What kinds of hot tea do you have here?
冬天我喜欢喝热茶。
Dōngtiān wǒ xǐhuan hē rè chá.
In winter I like drinking hot tea.