西餐

• Pinyin: xī cān
• Hanzi breakdown: 西 = pictograph of a bird's nest (associated with the west); 餐 = 歹 + 又 + 食 (food, meal)

Meaning

Western food; Western cuisine. Food originating from Western countries.

Refers broadly to European and American-style food, including steak, pasta, pizza, salads, and bread-based meals. Often contrasted with 中餐 (Chinese food). Western restaurants in China are called 西餐厅.

Examples

1. 你喜欢吃西餐还是中餐？ Do you like Western food or Chinese food?
2. 那家西餐厅的牛排很好吃。 The steak at that Western restaurant is delicious.
3. 我今天想吃西餐。 I want to eat Western food today.

Usage Guide

Context: food, dining, restaurants

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 今天中午去吃西餐吧。(Let's go eat Western food for lunch today.)
• 他不太习惯吃西餐。(He's not used to eating Western food.)

Don't Say

• 把日本料理叫西餐 (Don't call Japanese food 西餐 — it specifically refers to Western/European food, not all foreign food)

Origin & History

西 (xī, west/Western) + 餐 (cān, meal/food). Literally 'Western meal.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal