Restaurant

The “Restaurant” vocabulary set provides basic Chinese learners with commonly used vocabulary when going to a restaurant. The learning materials include vocabulary about types of restaurants, dishes, ordering, paying, and describing the taste of the dish. The content is designed to be concise, easy to understand, and suitable for beginners to learn Chinese. This document supports learners to effectively self-study Chinese online, supplementing their knowledge of Chinese vocabulary for free. You can refer to other online Chinese learning resources to consolidate your knowledge.

饭店
Writing practice noun L1
fàn diàn
hotel, restaurant
这家饭店很有名。
zhè jiā fàn diàn hěn yǒu míng 。
This restaurant is very famous.
Use: General term for places to eat and rest, often used for large-scale places.
餐厅
Writing practice noun L1
cāntīng
restaurant
这家餐厅的菜很好吃。
zhè jiā cān tīng de cài hěn hǎo chī 。
The food at this restaurant is delicious.
Use: A word referring to a place to eat, often used for restaurants with luxurious spaces or serving many dishes.
饭馆
Writing practice noun L1
fànguǎn
restaurant, pub
这家饭馆生意很好。
zhè jiā fànguǎn shēngyì hěn hǎo 。
This restaurant is doing very well.
Use: The word refers to a popular restaurant, which can be a small restaurant or a large restaurant.
Writing practice noun L1
cài
food, vegetables
这道菜很好吃。
zhè dào cài hěn hǎo chī 。
This dish is delicious.
Use: General term for food, which can be either a savory or a vegetable dish.
点菜
Writing practice verb L1
diǎn cài
order
我们来点菜吧。
wǒ men lái diǎn cài ba 。
Let's order.
Use: Just the act of choosing a dish from the menu.
菜单
Writing practice noun L1
cài dān
menu
请给我一份菜单。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yī fèn càidān 。
Can I have a menu please?
Use: Just a list of dishes served.
服务员
Writing practice noun L1
fúwùyuán
waiter
服务员,买单!
fú wù yuán , mǎi dān !
Waiter, check!
Use: Only people who work to serve customers in restaurants.
结账
Writing practice verb L1
jié zhàng
prepare the bill
请问,可以结账了吗?
qǐng wèn, kě yǐ jié zhàng le ma?
Excuse me, can I have the bill now?
Use: Just the act of paying the bill.
买单
Writing practice verb L1
mǎi dān
prepare the bill
买单!
mǎi dān!
Prepare the bill!
Use: Shorter form of '结账', often used in informal communication.
账单
Writing practice noun L1
zhàngdān
bill
请给我账单。
Qǐng gěi wǒ zhàngdān.
Please give me the bill.
Use: Just a piece of paper detailing the dishes and the total amount to be paid.

The vocabulary list is arranged by topic, with Sino-Vietnamese and Pinyin transcriptions, helping learners easily memorize and pronounce accurately. Learning Chinese vocabulary effectively requires perseverance and appropriate learning methods.

  • Remember the tones: Use songs, videos or learning software that has built-in tone practice to memorize accurately.
  • Tips to remember Chinese characters: Analyze the structure of Chinese characters, associate images or stories to remember more easily. For example: 饭 (fàn – rice) has the radical 米 (mǐ – rice).
  • How to use in a sentence: Learn how to use vocabulary in simple, practical sentences related to eating out. For example: 我想点菜 (Wǒ xiǎng diǎncài – I would like to order).
  • Review regularly: Create flashcards or use vocabulary learning apps to review every day, reinforcing what you've learned.
  • Practice Combination: Try applying the vocabulary you've learned in real-life situations, such as ordering food at a restaurant or chatting with native speakers.

Vocabulary

From Pinyin Meaning
饭店 fàn diàn hotel, restaurant
餐厅 cāntīng restaurant
饭馆 fànguǎn restaurant, pub
cài food, vegetables
点菜 diǎn cài order
菜单 cài dān menu
服务员 fúwùyuán waiter
结账 jié zhàng prepare the bill
买单 mǎi dān prepare the bill
账单 zhàngdān bill
好吃 hǎo chī tasty
难吃 nán chī bad
味道 wèi dào taste
spicy
tián sweet
suān sour
xián salty
bitter
预定 yù dìng book
桌子 zhuō zi table
椅子 yǐzi chair
价格 jiàgé price
便宜 piányi cheap
guì expensive
fèn part
饮料 yǐn liào drinking water
jiǔ alcohol
啤酒 píjiǔ beer
厨师 chúshī chef
厨房 chúfáng kitchen
特色菜 tèsè cài specialty food
满意 mǎnyì satisfied
不好吃 bù hǎo chī not delicious
预订 yùdìng book
座位 zuòwèi seat
shuǐ water
咖啡 kāfēi coffee
chá tea
tāng soup
米饭 mǐfàn rice
面条 miàntiáo noodles
小吃 xiǎochī Snacks
甜点 tiándiǎn dessert
wǎn bowl
pán plate
píng bottle
bēi glass
优惠 yōuhuì promotion
折扣 zhékǒu discount
信用卡 xìnyòngkǎ credit card
现金 xiànjīn cash
支付宝 zhǐfùbǎo Alipay
微信支付 wēixìn zhīfù Pay with WeChat Pay
酒店 jiǔdiàn hotel; restaurant (sometimes with accommodation services)
口味 kǒuwèi taste
葡萄酒 pútáocái wine
果汁 guǒzhī fruit juice
蛋糕 dàngāo cake
冰淇淋 bīngqílín cream
投诉 tōusù Complaint
消费 xiāofèi consumption; spending
海鲜 hǎixiān seafood
自助餐 zìzhùcān buffet
西餐 xīcān Western food
中餐 zhōngcān Chinese food
快餐 kuàicān fast food
烤肉 kǎoròu grilled meat
火锅 huǒguō hot pot
餐馆 cānguǎn eatery
菜谱 cài pǔ menu
酒水 jiǔ shuǐ wine, water
烧烤 shāo kǎo grill
美味 měi wèi tasty
可口 kě kǒu palatable
新鲜 xīn xiān fresh
环境 huán jìng environment
气氛 qì fēn atmosphere
优雅 yōu yǎ elegant
舒适 shū shì comfortable
预约 yù yuē book
取消 qǔ xiāo cancel
打包 dǎ bāo Take-out
付钱 fù qián pay
ròu meat
蔬菜 shū cài vegetable
红酒 hóng jiǔ red wine
精致 jīng zhì delicate
特色 tè sè featured
白酒 báijiǔ white wine
服务 fúwù serve
小费 xiǎofèi tips
zhàng bill, money
盘子 pánzi plate
筷子 kuàizi chopsticks
勺子 sháozi spoon
刀叉 dāochā knife and fork
不满意 bù mǎnyì not satisfied
份量 fènlìang ration
套餐 tāocān set dishes