Mijiu
/ˌmiːˈdʒuː/noun
A Chinese fermented alcoholic drink made from rice, often translated as rice wine.
Did you know?Mijiu is technically a fermented grain beverage rather than grape wine, and it has long appeared in Chinese culinary, ceremonial, and medicinal traditions.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
米
“Rice; the grain that forms the first element of the compound.”
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
酒
“Alcoholic beverage or fermented liquor; the second element of the compound.”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
米酒
“A compound meaning “rice liquor” or “rice wine.””
Modern Mandarin
Mandarin
mǐjiǔ
“Rice wine or fermented rice alcohol.”
20th Century
English
mijiu
“An English loanword for Chinese fermented rice wine.”