Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== kěkǒukělè: 可口可乐 - Coca-Cola ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** kěkǒukělè, 可口可乐, Coca-Cola in Chinese, Coke in Chinese, how to say Coke in Chinese, Chinese brand names, brand localization in China, tasty and fun, 百事可乐, kekoukele * **Summary:** Discover the fascinating story behind **可口可乐 (kěkǒukělè)**, the Chinese name for Coca-Cola. Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant examples of brand localization in history, this term is more than just a translation; it's a masterpiece of marketing. This page breaks down how the characters for "tasty" and "fun" combine to create a name that both sounds like "Coca-Cola" and perfectly captures the brand's happy, refreshing image for a Chinese audience. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** kě kǒu kě lè * **Part of Speech:** Proper Noun * **HSK Level:** N/A * **Concise Definition:** The official Chinese brand name for the soft drink Coca-Cola. * **In a Nutshell:** **可口可乐 (kěkǒukělè)** is the Chinese name for Coca-Cola. It's a fantastic example of a transliteration that also carries a powerful, positive meaning. The name cleverly breaks down into two parts: `可口 (kěkǒu)`, which means "tasty" or "palatable," and `可乐 (kělè)`, which means "joyful" or "fun." So, the name not only sounds like the original but also tells you that the drink is "tasty and brings joy." ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **可 (kě):** A versatile character meaning "can," "able to," or "worthy of." It often adds a sense of approval or possibility. * **口 (kǒu):** The character for "mouth." * **可 (kě):** The same character, used again for its sound and meaning. * **乐 (lè):** Means "happy," "joyful," or "fun." (Note: it can also be read as `yuè` for "music"). The four characters combine beautifully: * `可口 (kěkǒu)` - Literally "can mouth," this is a common adjective in Chinese that means "tasty" or "delicious." It describes something that is pleasing to the palate. * `可乐 (kělè)` - Literally "can be happy," this means "joyful," "amusing," or "fun." * Together, **可口可乐 (kěkǒukělè)** creates a four-character phrase that evokes a feeling of "Delicious and Fun," a perfect marketing message that also happens to phonetically approximate "Coca-Cola." ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The name **可口可乐** is a legendary case study in international marketing and cultural adaptation. When Coca-Cola first entered the Chinese market in the 1920s, the name was initially translated phonetically using characters that sounded similar but had nonsensical or bizarre meanings, such as `蝌蝌啃蜡 (kēkē kěn là)`, which translates to "Bite the Wax Tadpole." This was a clear marketing disaster. Realizing their mistake, the company held a public competition to find a better name. The winning entry, **可口可乐**, was chosen because it masterfully achieved two goals: 1. **Phonetic Similarity:** It sounds remarkably like "Coca-Cola." 2. **Semantic Excellence:** It carries an overwhelmingly positive and relevant meaning ("Tasty Fun"). This contrasts sharply with purely phonetic translations like `肯德基 (Kěndéjī)` for KFC, which has no inherent meaning. It also set a high bar for its main competitor, Pepsi, which later adopted the similarly brilliant name `百事可乐 (Bǎishìkělè)`, meaning "Everything is Fun." The success of **可口可乐** highlights a core value in Chinese naming culture, which prizes auspicious meanings and clever wordplay. It demonstrates to Western brands that a direct translation is rarely as effective as one that is culturally and linguistically resonant. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== In everyday life, most people don't use the full, four-character name. It's almost always shortened. * **Short Form:** The most common way to refer to or order Coke is by using the last two characters: **可乐 (kělè)**. If you go to a restaurant and ask for `一杯可乐 (yī bēi kělè)`, you will be served a Coca-Cola. It's the default "cola." * **Differentiation:** You would only use the full name **可口可乐 (kěkǒukělè)** if you needed to specifically distinguish it from other colas, like Pepsi (`百事可乐`). For example, a shopkeeper might ask, "Do you want Coca-Cola or Pepsi?" (`你要可口可乐还是百事可乐?`). * **Brand Context:** The full name is primarily used in formal contexts, such as advertising, on the product packaging, and in business discussions about the company itself. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我想喝一杯冰的**可乐**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng hē yī bēi bīng de **kělè**. * English: I'd like to drink a glass of iced Coke. * Analysis: This is the most common and natural way to order a Coke, using the short form `可乐`. * **Example 2:** * 很多年轻人喜欢用**可口可乐**配汉堡和薯条。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén xǐhuān yòng **Kěkǒukělè** pèi hànbǎo hé shǔtiáo. * English: Many young people like to have Coca-Cola with their hamburgers and fries. * Analysis: Here, the full name is used to talk about the brand in a more general, descriptive sense. * **Example 3:** * 你更喜欢**可口可乐**还是百事可乐？ * Pinyin: Nǐ gèng xǐhuān **Kěkǒukělè** háishì Bǎishìkělè? * English: Do you prefer Coca-Cola or Pepsi? * Analysis: The full names are used here to clearly differentiate between the two competing brands. * **Example 4:** * 妈妈不让我喝太多**可乐**，因为糖分太高了。 * Pinyin: Māma bù ràng wǒ hē tài duō **kělè**, yīnwèi tángfèn tài gāo le. * English: Mom doesn't let me drink too much cola because the sugar content is too high. * Analysis: `可乐` here is used as a general term for "cola" or sugary soft drinks, though it strongly implies Coke. * **Example 5:** * 请给我一瓶零度**可口可乐**。 * Pinyin: Qǐng gěi wǒ yī píng língdù **Kěkǒukělè**. * English: Please give me a bottle of Coke Zero. * Analysis: This shows how different product variations are named, often appending a descriptor to the brand name. * **Example 6:** * **可口可乐**的中文名字被认为是一个非常成功的翻译案例。 * Pinyin: **Kěkǒukělè** de Zhōngwén míngzi bèi rènwéi shì yī ge fēicháng chénggōng de fānyì ànlì. * English: The Chinese name for Coca-Cola is considered a very successful case of translation. * Analysis: This sentence discusses the brand name itself in a meta-context, requiring the full four characters. * **Example 7:** * 聚会的时候，我们买了很多零食和**可乐**。 * Pinyin: Jùhuì de shíhou, wǒmen mǎi le hěn duō língshí hé **kělè**. * English: For the party, we bought a lot of snacks and Coke. * Analysis: A very common, casual usage of the short form in the context of socializing. * **Example 8:** * 这家餐厅只卖百事**可乐**，不卖**可口可乐**。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng zhǐ mài Bǎishì**kělè**, bù mài **Kěkǒukělè**. * English: This restaurant only sells Pepsi, not Coca-Cola. * Analysis: Another clear example of using the full and partial names to distinguish between brands. * **Example 9:** * 有些人喜欢用**可乐**炖鸡翅，味道很特别。 * Pinyin: Yǒu xiē rén xǐhuān yòng **kělè** dùn jīchì, wèidào hěn tèbié. * English: Some people like to use Coke to braise chicken wings; the flavor is very unique. * Analysis: This refers to a popular Chinese recipe, "Coke Chicken Wings," where `可乐` is an ingredient. * **Example 10:** * **可口可乐**公司旗下还有雪碧和芬达等品牌。 * Pinyin: **Kěkǒukělè** gōngsī qíxià hái yǒu Xuěbì hé Fēndá děng pǐnpái. * English: The Coca-Cola Company also owns brands like Sprite and Fanta. * Analysis: Here, the full name refers to the corporation, not just the drink. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Don't Overthink the Meaning:** While the literal meaning is "tasty and fun," a native speaker ordering a `可乐` is not consciously thinking about that. They are simply thinking "Coke." The brilliant meaning works on a subconscious, branding level, not in everyday transactional language. * **`可乐` as the Default:** The most common mistake for learners is using the full four-character name in casual conversation. Remember that **`可乐 (kělè)`** is sufficient 95% of the time. Using **`可口可乐`** to order a drink can sound a bit overly formal or clunky, like saying "I would like to purchase one Coca-Cola carbonated soft drink." * **The "Bite the Wax Tadpole" Myth:** While the story of the terrible initial translation `蝌蝌啃蜡` is a fantastic and illustrative anecdote, be aware that its historical accuracy is debated. Some sources claim it was a potential option that was rejected, not a name that was ever actually used commercially. Regardless, it serves as the perfect cautionary tale for brand localization. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[可乐]] (kělè) - The common abbreviation for Coca-Cola, and the general term for "cola." * [[百事可乐]] (Bǎishìkělè) - Pepsi-Cola; the main competitor with an equally clever name ("Everything is Fun"). * [[汽水]] (qìshuǐ) - The general term for soda or any carbonated soft drink. * [[雪碧]] (Xuěbì) - Sprite. Another successful name from the Coca-Cola company, meaning "Snow Jade." * [[芬达]] (Fēndá) - Fanta. A purely phonetic translation. * [[零度可乐]] (Língdù Kělè) - Coke Zero (literally "Zero Degree Cola"). * [[健怡可乐]] (Jiànyí Kělè) - Diet Coke (literally "Healthy and Pleasant Cola"). * [[品牌]] (pǐnpái) - Brand. `可口可乐` is a famous global `品牌`. * [[翻译]] (fānyì) - Translation/to translate. This term is a perfect example of excellent `翻译`. * [[本土化]] (běntǔhuà) - Localization. The process of adapting a product for a specific country or region.