外卖

• Pinyin: wài mài
• Hanzi breakdown: 外 = 夕 (evening) + 卜 (divination); 卖 = simplified from 賣, 出 (go out) + 买 (buy)

Meaning

Takeaway food; food delivery; to order delivery. Refers to food ordered from a restaurant to be delivered or picked up.

Originally meant 'takeaway food,' but in modern China 外卖 overwhelmingly refers to food delivery via apps like 美团 or 饿了么. Ordering 外卖 is an everyday activity for millions of Chinese people. Can be used as a noun (the food itself or the service) or as a verb (to order delivery).

Examples

1. 今天太累了，我们点外卖吧。 I'm too tired today — let's order delivery.
2. 外卖已经到了，快来吃饭。 The delivery has arrived — come eat!
3. 他每天中午都吃外卖。 He eats takeaway food every day at noon.

Usage Guide

Context: food, everyday, technology

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 我们点外卖吧，不想做饭了。(Let's order delivery — I don't feel like cooking.)
• 你的外卖到了。(Your delivery has arrived.)

Don't Say

• 我去餐厅吃外卖。(Don't say you eat 外卖 at a restaurant — 外卖 specifically means food taken away or delivered. If you eat at the restaurant, say 在餐厅吃饭 or 堂食.)

Origin & History

Compound of 外 (outside) and 卖 (to sell), literally 'selling outside' — food sold for consumption outside the restaurant.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal