I think that gaiwan is a special type of gaibei from Sichuan. Nowadays the
term gaibei is mostly applied to a lidded mug with or without strainer. Take
a look at this site: http://www.shanshuiteas.com/teaware.html
I think calling gaiwan "gaibei" is OK, but calling lidded cylindrical mug
"gaiwan" is not.
Here they call gaiwan gaibei:
http://www.nobleharbor.com/tea/kungfu/teaware.html
Here is an article from Roy Wong of ITC.
http://www.macnabspremiumteas.com/gaiwan.html

The last word should be said by our Chinese friends, though.

Sasha.




"Mydnight" > wrote in message
...
> 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:
>
> gai = the cover of the cup/bowl
> wan = 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.