On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 03:53:10 GMT, Mydnight > wrote:

>On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 16:51:22 -0800, "Melinda" >
>wrote:
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>On this page http://www.nobleharbor.com/tea/kungfu/teaware.html they show a
>>gaibei that looks exactly like a gaiwan. On the Shan Shui page
>>http://www.shanshuiteas.com/ under gaibei they show a handled cup with a
>>lid, that looks similar to a western type cup. My question...is gaibei a
>>very general term describing any cup with a lid whereas gaiwan is
>>specifically the little cup we all know and love? Or what's the difference?
>
>
>It's interesting.
>
>gaiwan:
>
>gai = the cover of the cup/bowl
>wan = bowl
>
>gaibei:
OOPS. heh

>
>gai = the cover of the cup/bowl
>bei = cup
>
>I think the two terms basically describe the same thing. A cup/bowl
>and a cover. There are coffee style mugs with a top that they refer
>to as gaibei, but I have seldom heard the term used even when talking
>about this. I have heard chabei (literally tea cup) more often than
>gaibei, and chabei can be used to describe the small tasting cups as
>well. Gaiwan is the more commonly used phrase and it is used solely
>in the preparation or drinking of tea; it's not used in everyday life.
>Some of the older people use the gaiwan for drinking tea, but even
>this is becoming more rare as coffee drinking proliferates and because
>the younger generation doesn't have as much interest in tea.
>
>It could also be a regional variation in language. Maybe people in a
>certain place just call it gaibei instead of gaiwan.
>
>As an aside, I actually searched all over southern China for a
>specific type of gaiwan that I saw used in some teashops and couldn't
>find it. heh.
>
>But other than this, my Chinese friends and I don't know. heh.
>
>
>
>Mydnight
>
>--------------------
>thus then i turn me from my countries light, to dwell in the solemn shades of an endless night.



Mydnight

--------------------
thus then i turn me from my countries light, to dwell in the solemn shades of an endless night.