noun HSK 4
Traditional 紅茶
black tea · red tea
Meaning
红茶 refers to what English speakers call 'black tea.' The Chinese name literally means 'red tea,' referring to the reddish-brown color of the brewed liquid rather than the dried leaves. It's one of the main categories of Chinese tea, fully oxidized during processing.
Usage
This is the standard term for black tea in Mandarin. In tea shops or restaurants, you might order 红茶 to get classic black tea varieties. Note that Chinese 红茶 includes both Chinese black teas (like 正山小种) and Western-style black teas. It contrasts with 绿茶 (green tea), which is unoxidized.
Examples
- 01我想要一杯红茶，不加糖。, .I'd like a cup of black tea without sugar.
- 02这家店的冰红茶特别好喝。.This shop's iced black tea is especially delicious.
Characters
Measure words
- 杯一杯红茶
- 壶一壶红茶
Common collocations
- 喝红茶to drink black tea
- 一杯红茶a cup of black tea
- 泡红茶to brew black tea
- 冰红茶iced black tea
Origin
Named for the reddish color of the brewed tea liquid. In Western countries, it's called 'black tea' after the color of the dried leaves, but Chinese focuses on the infusion's appearance.