汤(tāng) - soup in Mandarin

汤 (tāng) is "soup", and specifically a clear or thin broth-based soup rather than something thick like a stew. It is a staple part of a Chinese meal, usually served alongside the rice and other dishes rather than as a separate starter course.

The verb that pairs with it is 喝 (hē), "to drink", not 吃 (chī), "to eat": Chinese soup is thin enough to be drunk from a spoon or straight from the bowl, so 喝汤 (hē tāng), "to drink soup", is the natural phrase, where English speakers instinctively reach for "eat soup".

Watch the character in its traditional form, 湯 (tāng): it drops out of daily use on the mainland but still appears across Taiwan and Hong Kong menus, and on Japanese signage the same character (read "yu" in that language) means "hot water" or "bath", a false friend worth knowing if you travel widely.