Definition
A hot drink made by pouring boiling water over dried leaves, usually served in a cup or glass.
Example
Она каждое утро пьёт горячий чай.
Show translation
She drinks hot tea every morning.
Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th–17th century from Chinese 茶 (chá) via the Mandarin northern dialect form *chāi* or through Turkic intermediaries. The same Chinese root gave English "tea" (via southern Min 茶 *te*) and "chai" (via Persian چای *chāy*). Russian чай thus shares a single ancient ancestor with its English equivalents, split along two great Silk Road trade routes.
Cultural note
Tea is deeply woven into Russian daily life. Traditionally it was brewed strong in a заварочный чайник (ceramic teapot) and diluted to taste from a кипяток-filled самовар (samovar) — an ornate urn-shaped vessel that became a symbol of Russian hospitality. Offering a guest чай is a basic act of welcome, and sitting down "за чаем" (over tea) signals a relaxed, intimate conversation. The phrase "чай не водка — много не выпьешь" ("tea isn't vodka — you can't drink too much of it") is a folk proverb used jokingly to encourage someone to keep drinking. Learners should also know пить чай (to drink tea) and чайник (kettle/teapot) as immediate vocabulary neighbors.