From Old East Slavic *чаша (chasha), meaning a bowl or cup, itself inherited from Proto-Slavic *čaša. Cognates appear across Slavic languages: Czech číše, Polish czasza. The diminutive suffix -ка gives the modern form чашка, implying a smaller vessel than the older чаша, which survives today mostly in poetic or archaic contexts (e.g. "чаша терпения" — the cup of patience).

Tea culture is central to Russian daily life, and the чашка is its most common vessel — though traditionally Russians also drank tea from a стакан (glass) held in a metal подстаканник (glass holder), especially on trains. Offering someone a чашку чая is a universal gesture of hospitality. Don't confuse чашка (cup, with a handle) with кружка (mug, typically taller and cylindrical) — Russians themselves distinguish the two clearly.