A small cup used for drinking alcoholic beverages (sake cup); also written 盃 (sakazuki). Often used in ceremonial or drinking contexts.
結婚式で親族が盃を交わした。
Relatives exchanged sake cups at the wedding.
陶器の杯を集めるのが彼の趣味だ。
Collecting ceramic sake cups is his hobby.
古い盃には細かい柄が彫られている。
An old sake cup has fine patterns carved into it.
A counter for cupfuls, bowlfuls, spoonfuls, etc. (used as 〜杯).
コーヒーを二杯ください。
Two cups of coffee, please.
彼は一晩でビールを三杯も飲んだ。
He drank as many as three cups (glasses) of beer in one night.
計量カップで水を二杯量る。
Measure two cupfuls of water with the measuring cup.
A counter for boats (used in some contexts to count small boats).
漁師は朝に小舟を五杯出した。
The fishermen set out five small boats in the morning.
港には古い漁船が十杯停泊している。
There are ten old fishing boats moored at the harbor.
A counter for octopuses and squid (used to count cephalopods).
市場でイカが二杯売れていた。
Two squid were sold at the market.
釣りで蛸を三杯釣った。
I caught three octopuses while fishing.
A noun/suffix used in sports and competitions to mean a cup or championship (e.g., Asia Cup).
アジア杯はサッカーの重要な大会だ。
The Asia Cup is an important football tournament.
天皇杯で優勝することが彼の夢だ。
Winning the Emperor's Cup is his dream.
今年は地域の杯に高校チームが出場する。
This year the high school team will participate in the regional cup.