bīngkuài: 冰块 - Ice Cube, Ice Block

• Keywords: bīngkuài, 冰块, ice cube in Chinese, how to say ice in Chinese, ordering drinks in China, Chinese for ice, block of ice, bīng, kuài, 去冰, 加冰.
• Summary: Learn how to say “ice cube” in Chinese with the word 冰块 (bīngkuài). This page covers its literal meaning (“ice piece”), essential cultural context about why many Chinese prefer drinks without ice, and practical phrases for ordering beverages in modern China. Master 冰块 to customize your drinks and understand a key difference between Western and Chinese daily habits.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bīngkuài
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A piece of frozen water; an ice cube or a block of ice.
• In a Nutshell: 冰块 (bīngkuài) is the most common and direct word for the individual, countable pieces of ice you put in a drink or use for cooling. It's a very literal and functional word that combines the concepts of “ice” and “a piece.”

• 冰 (bīng): This character means “ice.” Its radical is `冫`, which is a pictograph of ice crystals or icicles. Any character with this radical is likely related to coldness, freezing, or ice.
• 块 (kuài): This character means “piece,” “lump,” “chunk,” or “block.” It's also a very common measure word for things that come in pieces or lumps (like a piece of soap, 一块肥皂, or a piece of land, 一块地).
• The characters combine perfectly to mean “ice-piece” or “ice-block,” which is exactly what an ice cube is.

For many Westerners, ice in a drink is the default. In China, the opposite is often true. The cultural significance of 冰块 (bīngkuài) lies more in its absence than its presence. Traditionally, Chinese culture, influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), advises against consuming very cold or icy food and drinks. The belief is that cold items disrupt the body's internal balance (qi, 气) and are particularly bad for digestion and the spleen. It's common to see