noun
sake cup; cup for alcoholic beverages
Specifically a small cup for drinking sake or other alcohol. Compare さかずき, which is more formal or poetic.
See also: 杯 (さかずき)
おちょこより大きめの杯で日本酒を楽しんだ。
I enjoyed sake in a cup larger than an ochoko.
counter
counter for cupfuls, bowlfuls, spoonfuls
Used for servings of food or drink measured by a container. Often used with ご飯, スープ, etc.
ご飯を一杯ください。
Please give me a bowl of rice.
スープを二杯おかわりした。
I had two more servings of soup.
counter
Rare counter for small boats, especially traditional Japanese boats. Modern usage is limited.
漁港に小舟が三杯停まっていた。
Three small boats were moored at the fishing port.
counter
counter for octopuses and squid
Specialized counter used in fishing and culinary contexts for whole octopus or squid.
市場で生きたタコを二杯買った。
I bought two live octopuses at the market.
noun, used as a suffix
Suffix used in sports tournament names, e.g., アジア杯 (Asian Cup).
See also: アジア杯
サッカーのワールドカップは「W杯」とも書く。
The soccer World Cup is also written as 'W杯'.
さかずき is a more formal or poetic term for a sake cup, often used in ceremonies, while 杯 is the everyday word.
The kanji 杯 originally depicts a vessel for drinking. The reading はい is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi. The counter uses derive from the image of a cup or container.