茶托
Term · Teaware
cup stand
Literal meaning
tea support
Definition#
A stand or saucer for a tea bowl or cup that keeps hot porcelain off the hand and catches drips; the saucer of a gaiwan is one. A Tang anecdote credits the daughter of Cui Ning in the Jianzhong era (780–783) with fixing the cup to a saucer with a wax, later lacquer, ring, but stands are older. Synonyms include 盏托, 茶船 and 茶舟; 杯托 is the usual retail word for small cup saucers.
Translation and usage#
| Language | Use | Alternatives & cautions |
|---|---|---|
| English | cup stand saucer or stand for a tea cup translation |
Also acceptable
Avoid tea boat in mainland gongfu usage 茶船 now usually means a bowl or tray holding the pot |
| Deutsch | Untersetzer Untersatz für Teeschale oder Tasse translation |
Also acceptable
|
| Русский | подставка под чашку блюдце или подставка для чаши translation |
Also acceptable
|
| 简体字 | 茶托 | |
| 繁體字 | 茶托 | Regional usage
|
| 日本語 | 茶托 |
Common confusions#
- 茶船 is polysemous: the Taiwan MOE dictionary defines it as a boat-shaped saucer under a teacup, while mainland gongfu guides use it for a bowl that holds the teapot, catches overflow and is filled with hot water.
- 茶船 has more than one utensil sense: it can name a cup saucer, while modern brewing usage may refer to a vessel supporting a teapot. These objects should not be assumed identical.