![Chinese Eating and Drinking Vocabulary](https://learnerlanguage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Chinese-Eating-and-Drinking-Vocabulary.jpg)
Chinese Eating and Drinking Vocabulary
General Terms
Chinese | puyin | meaning |
---|---|---|
拼盘 | pīn pán | assorted cold dishes |
苦 | kǔ | bitter |
早餐 | zǎocān | breakfast |
自助餐 | zì zhù cān | buffet |
中餐 | zhōng cān | Chinese food |
中国菜 | zhōng guó cài | Chinese food (another way to say it) |
冷盘 | lěng pán | cold dish |
好吃 | hǎo chī | delicious |
晚餐 | wǎncān | dinner |
饮料 | yǐn liào | drink (beverage) |
喝 | hē | drink (to) |
干 | gān | dry |
吃饭 | chī fàn | eat a meal (to) |
食物 | shíwù | food |
新鲜 | xīnxiān | fresh |
冰冻的 | bīngdòng de | frozen |
饱 | bǎo | full (from eating food) |
粮食 | liáng shi | grain |
自己来 | zìjǐ lái | help yourself (to) |
家常便饭 | jiā cháng biàn fàn | home-style meal |
辣 | là | hot (spicy) |
烫 | tàng | hot (boiling / scalding) |
饿 | è | hungry |
请客 | qǐng kè | invite someone to eat |
宵夜 | xiāo yè | late-night snack |
午餐 | wǔcān | lunch |
道 | dào | measure word for meal courses |
顿 | dùn | measure word for meals |
吃不来 | chī bu lái | not fond certain food |
气味 | qì wèi | odor |
油腻 | yóunì | oily |
咸 | xián | salty |
摆 | bǎi | set the table (to) |
闻 | wén | smell (to) |
香 | xiāng | smells good (fragrant) |
零食 | líng shí | snacks |
酸 | suān | sour |
拿手菜 | ná shǒu cài | specialty dish |
馊 | sōu | spoiled |
浓 | nóng | strong (taste, flavor, smell) |
甜 | tián | sweet |
味道 | wèi dao | taste |
尝 | cháng | taste (to) |
难吃 | nán chī | taste (bad) |
淡 | dàn | taste (weak or bland) |
嫩 | nèn | tender |
口渴 | kǒu kě | thirsty |
老 | lǎo | tough (food – also: overdone) |
吃不下 | chī bu xià | unable to eat any more |
吃素的人 | chīsù de rén | vegetarian |
西餐 | xī cān | western food |
At The Restaurant
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
买单 | mǎi dān | ask for the bill (to) |
账单 | zhàngdān | bill |
食堂 | shí táng | cafeteria (in school, university, etc.) |
咖啡馆 | kāfēi guǎn | coffee shop |
饭厅 | fàn tīng | dining room (or dining hall) |
菜单 | càidān | menu |
点菜 | diǎn cài | order food (to) |
外卖 | wài mài | ordering take-out food that is delivered |
饭店 | fàn diàn | restaurant (one of three ways to say this) |
餐馆 | cān guǎn | restaurant (one of three ways to say this) |
餐厅 | cāntīng | restaurant (one of three ways to say this) |
小费 | xiǎofèi | tip |
打包 | dǎ bāo | to bag the leftovers or get take-out food |
服务员 | fúwùyuán | waiter (or waitress) |
Food Types
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
烧烤 | shāo kǎo | barbecue |
牛肉 | niúròu | beef |
饼干 | bǐng gān | biscuits |
煮蛋 | zhǔ dàn | boiled eggs |
面包 | miànbāo | bread |
黄油 | huángyóu | butter |
蛋糕 | dàngāo | cake |
糖果 | tángguǒ | candy |
奶酪 | nǎilào | cheese |
口香糖 | kǒu xiāng táng | chewing gum |
鸡 | jī | chicken |
鸡排 | jī pái | chicken breast |
巧克力 | qiǎokèlì | chocolate |
奶油 | nǎiyóu | cream |
快餐 | kuài cān | fast food |
煎蛋 | jiān dàn | fried eggs |
蒜 | suàn | garlic |
生姜 | shēng jiāng | ginger |
火腿 | huǒtuǐ | ham |
汉堡 | hànbǎo | hamburger |
冰淇淋 | bīng qí lín | ice cream |
果酱 | guǒ jiàng | jam |
羊肉 | yángròu | lamb |
肉 | ròu | meat |
油 | yóu | oil |
煎饼 | jiān bǐng | pancake |
意大利面 | yìdàlì miàn | pasta / spaghetti |
花生米 | huāshēng mǐ | peanuts |
披萨 | pī sà | pizza |
猪肉 | zhūròu | pork |
薯片 | shǔ piàn | potato chips |
沙拉 | shālā | salad |
三明治 | sānmíngzhì | sandwich |
炒蛋 | chǎo dàn | scrambled eggs |
海鲜 | hǎixiān | seafood |
芝麻油 | zhī ma yóu | sesame oil |
虾 | xiā | shrimp |
汤 | tāng | soup |
牛排 | niúpái | steak |
糖 | táng | sugar |
烤面包 | kǎo miànbāo | toast |
素菜 | sù cài | vegetable dish |
酸奶 | suān nǎi | yoghurt |
Vegetables
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
芦笋 | lú sǔn | asparagus |
苦瓜 | kǔ guā | bitter melon |
西兰花 | xī lánhuā | broccoli |
白菜 | báicài | cabbage |
胡萝卜 | húluóbo | carrot |
花菜 | huā cài | cauliflower |
芹菜 | qíncài | celery |
玉米 | yù mǐ | corn |
香菜 | xiāng cài | cilantro |
黄瓜 | huáng guā | cucumber |
茄子 | qié zi | eggplant |
豌豆 | wān dòu | green peas |
青椒 | qīng jiāo | green peppers |
生菜 | shēngcài | lettuce |
蘑菇 | mó gu | mushroom |
洋葱 | yáng cōng | onions |
土豆 | tǔdòu | potatoes |
萝卜 | luó bo | radish |
菠菜 | bōcài | spinach |
四季豆 | sì jì dòu | string beans |
番茄 | fān qié | tomato |
蔬菜 | shūcài | vegetable |
Fruits
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
苹果 | píngguǒ | apple |
杏子 | xìng zi | apricot |
香蕉 | xiāngjiāo | banana |
椰子 | yē zi | coconut |
水果 | shuǐguǒ | fruit |
葡萄 | pútao | grape |
柠檬 | níng méng | lemon |
荔枝 | lì zhī | lychee |
芒果 | máng guǒ | mango |
橙子 | chéng zi | orange |
木瓜 | mù guā | papaya |
桃子 | táo zi | peach |
梨子 | lí zi | pear |
菠萝 | bō luó | pineapple |
李子 | lǐ zi | plum |
木莓 | mù méi | raspberry |
草莓 | cǎo méi | strawberry |
橘子 | jú zi | tangerine |
西瓜 | xīguā | watermelon |
Chinese Food
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
竹笋 | zhú sǔn | bamboo shoots |
豆芽 | dòu yá | bean shoots |
牛肉面 | niú ròu miàn | beef noodle soup |
馒头 | mán tou | bun (steam) |
包子 | bāo zi | bun (steamed and stuffed) |
烧饼 | shāo bing | cake (with baked sesame seed) |
粤菜 | Yuè cài | Cantonese food |
油条 | yóu tiáo | deep fried dough stick |
油饼 | yóu bǐng | deep fried pancake |
点心 | diǎn xin | dim sum |
盐水鸭 | yánshuǐ yā | duck (boiled and salted) |
烤鸭 | kǎo yā | duck (Peking) |
水饺 | shuǐ jiǎo | dumplings (boiled) |
饺子 | jiǎozi | dumplings (stuffed with vegetable and/or meat) |
春卷 | chūn juǎn | egg roll |
炒面 | chǎo miàn | fried noodles (chow mein) |
火锅 | huǒguō | hot pot |
宫保鸡丁 | gōng bǎo jī dīng | kung pao chicken |
麻婆豆腐 | má pó dòu fǔ | mapo tofu (stir-fried beancurd in chili sauce) |
面馆 | miàn guǎn | noodle shop |
面条 | miàntiáo | noodles |
东北菜 | dōngběi cài | northeast food |
白切鸡 | bái qiē jī | plain cut chicken |
糖醋肉 | táng cù ròu | pork (sweet and sour) |
回锅肉 | huí guō ròu | pork (twice cooked pork) |
红烧肉 | hóng shāo ròu | pork braised in red sauce |
粥 | zhōu | porridge (congee) |
锅贴 | guō tiē | pot stickers (fried dumpling) |
米饭 | mǐ fàn | rice (cooked) |
白饭 | bái fàn | rice (white) |
炒饭 | chǎo fàn | fried rice |
米 | mǐ | rice (uncooked) |
米粉 | mǐ fěn | rice-flour noodles |
四川菜 | sìchuān cài | Sichuan food |
豆腐 | dòu fu | tofu (bean curd) |
番茄炒蛋 | fānqié chǎodàn | tomatoes and scrambled eggs with fried rice |
馄饨 | hún tun | wonton soup (dumpling soup) |
Drinks
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
酒 | jiǔ | alcoholic beverages |
啤酒 | píjiǔ | beer |
白兰地 | bái lán dì | brandy |
白酒 | bái jiǔ | Chinese white spirits |
可口可乐 | kě kǒu kě lè | coca cola |
咖啡 | kāfēi | coffee |
泡咖啡 | pào kāfēi | coffee (to make) |
热饮 | rè yǐn | hot drink |
喝醉 | hē zuì | drunk (to get) |
醉 | zuì | drunk |
果汁 | guǒ zhī | fruit juice |
蜂蜜 | fēng mì | honey |
冰 | bīng | ice |
冰块 | bīng kuài | ice cubes |
柠檬水 | níng méng shuǐ | lemonade |
牛奶 | niúnǎi | milk |
奶昔 | nǎi xī | milkshake |
矿泉水 | kuàng quán shuǐ | mineral water |
茅台 | Máo tái | Moutai (strong Chinese spirit) |
橙汁 | chéng zhī | orange juice |
百事可乐 | bǎi shì kě lè | Pepsi |
豆浆 | dòu jiāng | soy milk |
汽水 | qì shuǐ | soft drink |
雪碧 | xuě bì | sprite |
茶 | chá | tea |
茶叶 | chá yè | tea leaves |
红茶 | hóng chá | black tea |
绿茶 | lǜ chá | green tea |
茉莉花茶 | mò li huā chá | jasmine tea |
泡茶 | pào chá | tea (to make) |
茶壶 | chá hú | tea pot |
热水瓶 | rè shuǐ píng | thermos flask (hot water dispenser) |
口渴 | kǒu kě | thirsty |
水 | shuǐ | water |
开水 | kāishuǐ | boiled water |
冰水 | bīng shuǐ | chilled water |
烧水 | shāo shuǐ | boiling water |
葡萄酒 | pútáojiǔ | wine |
红葡萄酒 | hóng pútaojiǔ | red wine |
白葡萄酒 | bái pútaojiǔ | white wine |
Utensils and Equipment
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
碗 | wǎn | bowl |
筷子 | kuàizi | chopsticks |
杯子 | bēizi | cup |
叉子 | chāzi | fork |
开水壶 | kāishuǐhú | kettle |
刀 | dāo | knife |
刀叉 | dāo chā | knife and fork |
微波炉 | wéibōlú | microwave oven |
餐巾 | cānjīn | napkin |
盘子 | pánzi | plate |
锅 | guō | pot |
锅铲 | guōchǎn | spatula |
勺子 | sháozi | spoon |
吸管 | xī guǎn | straw |
蒸笼 | zhēng lóng | steamer basket |
炉子 | lúzi | stove |
电炉 | diàn lú | electric stove |
煤气炉 | méiqìlú | gas stove |
茶杯 | chá bēi | tea cup |
牙签 | yáqiān | toothpick |
炒锅 | chǎo guō | wok |
Cooking Methods
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
烧烤 | shāokǎo | barbecue |
煮 | zhǔ | boil in water (to) |
做饭 | zuò fàn | cook a meal (to) |
食谱 | shí pǔ | cook book |
炸 | zhá | fry (deep) |
煎 | jiān | fry (pan) |
蒸 | zhēng | steam (to) |
炖 | dùn | stew (or simmer) |
炒 | chǎo | stir-fry (or sauté) |
Seasonings
Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
---|---|---|
辣椒 | làjiāo | chili |
辣椒酱 | làjiāo jiàng | chili sauce |
咖喱 | gā lí | curry |
番茄酱 | fānqié jiàng | ketchup |
味精 | wèi jīng | MSG |
胡椒 | hújiāo | pepper |
盐 | yán | salt |
花椒 | huā jiāo | Sichuan pepper |
酱油 | jiàngyóu | soy sauce |
醋 | cù | vinegar |