你 们 好!
Nǐmen hǎo!

In this lesson, we will learn some vocabulary for eating, not eating and ordering food at a restaurant!

Sentences

您 要 吃 什 么?
Nín yào chī shénme? What do you want to eat?

我 要 吃 蘑 菇.
Wǒ yào chī mógu. I want to eat mushrooms.

我 要 吃 鸡 肉.
Wǒ yào chī jīròu. I want to eat chicken.

我 不 吃 肉.
Wǒ bù chī ròu. I do not eat meat.

我 不 能 吃 鱼.
Wǒ bù néng chī yú. I cannot eat fish.

谢 谢, 饭 菜 好 吃!
Xièxie, fàncài hǎochī. Thank you, the food was tasty!

Vocabulary

diǎn cài 点 菜 = to order food (v.+o.)
yào 要 = to want (v.)
chī 吃 = to eat (v.)
suíbiàn 随 便 = all the same, it doesn't matter (adj.)
mógu 蘑 菇 = mushroom (n.)
jīròu 鸡 肉 = chicken meat (n.)
yú 鱼 = fish (n.)
ròu 肉 = meat (n.)
xièxie 谢 谢 = thank you (v.)
fàncài 饭 菜 = food (n.)
hǎochī 好 吃 = tasty (adj.)

I want to eat…

To order food in a restaurant is diǎn cài in Chinese. Picking the right dishes from the menu is the first step in the social event of eating together. If you have been invited as a guest to a table, you will be asked: ”What do you want to eat?”, Nín yào chī shénme?

Nín = you, yào = to want, chī = to eat. Shénme marks the question ”what” and is placed at the end of the whole sentence. You can answer by saying ”I want to eat.....”, Wǒ yào chī...., and after that it is just a matter of learning as many names of delicious dishes as possible.

The order of words in a declarative sentence is subject + verb + object.

You can construct a negative sentence by placing the word bù in front of the verb. If you wish to express, for example, that you do not eat meat, in Chinese that'll be Wǒ bù chī ròu.

In case you are allergic to some ingredients used in Chinese cuisine, you can say ”I cannot eat ....”, Wǒ bù néng chī... Néng means ”to be able, can”. If you are allergic to fish, try to remember the following phrase: Wǒ bù néng chī yú.

After people are done eating all that delicious food, they say ”Thank you, the food was tasty”, Xièxie, fàncài hǎochī! Hǎo means ”good”, and chī is ”to eat” – hǎochī is then ”good to eat”, ”tasty”.

Hǎo – good/ very

Hǎo can be used with many verbs:
Hǎo + ”to watch”, kàn = hǎokàn, good looking ( 好 看 )
Hǎo+ ”to play, to amuse oneself”, wán = hǎowán, funny, amusing ( 好 玩 )
Hǎo + ”to listen”, tīng = hǎotīng, sounds good! ( 好 听 )

Hǎo is also used with many adjectives as an adverb, in which case it indicates the degree of sth:
Hǎo + ”beautiful” piàoliang = hǎo piàoliang, very beautiful ( 好 漂 亮 )
Hǎo + ”long time” jiǔ = hǎo jiǔ, already for a very long time ( 好 久 )
Hǎo + ”busy” máng = hǎo máng, very busy ( 好 忙 )

Bits of Chinese food culture

The Chinese eat just about anything! So, if you are asked ”What do you want to eat?”, don't be too polite and say suíbiàn, ”anything” - in case you really are not prepared to eat that ”anything”.

Your Chinese host is determined to serve you the best that money can buy, which may include some rare specialities. This is simply his way of showing you respect. In case you have some limitations to your diet, it is best to speak out at this point, before the order has been placed. Your Chinese host might be confused if he serves you the best the restaurant has to offer, and you won't even taste it.

It is perfectly alright if, due to religious, ethical or health reasons, you do not eat certain ingredients, such as dogs, snakes, pork ears, duck feet etc. Sea food especially is considered a special delicacy in China, and it can be pretty expensive too, so just let your hosts know if it does not suit your taste. Baked snakes, spiced insects, fried scorpions and other really exotic food is most commonly served in southern parts of China.