How to Say “Sparkling water” in Chinese
Food and dining · HSK 3
"Sparkling water" in Chinese is 气泡水 (qì pào shuǐ). 气泡水 (qìpàoshuǐ, literally 'gas bubble water') is the standard term everywhere, though older menus sometimes use 苏打水 (sūdáshuǐ, soda water); technically different, but often conflated. Sparkling water is a recent import and far from universal in Chinese restaurants; you're most likely to find it at Western-style places, hotels, or coffee chains.
Primary translation
气泡水
qì pào shuǐ
Traditional: 氣泡水
Variants by register
Formal
请来一瓶气泡水
qǐng lái yī píng qì pào shuǐ
Casual
有气泡水吗？
yǒu qì pào shuǐ ma?
When to use it
气泡水 (qìpàoshuǐ, literally 'gas bubble water') is the standard term everywhere, though older menus sometimes use 苏打水 (sūdáshuǐ, soda water); technically different, but often conflated. Sparkling water is a recent import and far from universal in Chinese restaurants; you're most likely to find it at Western-style places, hotels, or coffee chains. Brands like Perrier (巴黎水 Bālíshuǐ) and San Pellegrino are popular in tier-1 cities. In casual Chinese dining, don't expect it; stick to tea or beer.
Example sentences
你们有气泡水吗？
Nǐ men yǒu qì pào shuǐ ma?
Do you have sparkling water?
我要一杯气泡水加柠檬。
Wǒ yào yī bēi qì pào shuǐ jiā níng méng.
I'd like a glass of sparkling water with lemon.
气泡水和苏打水不太一样。
Qì pào shuǐ hé sū dá shuǐ bù tài yī yàng.
Sparkling water and soda water are a bit different.