中餐

• Pinyin: zhōng cān
• Hanzi breakdown: 中 = a line through the middle of a rectangle, meaning 'center/Chinese'; 餐 = 歺 (bones) + 又 (again) + 食 (food)

Meaning

Chinese food; Chinese cuisine. Food prepared in the Chinese style.

Refers specifically to Chinese cuisine as opposed to Western food (西餐). In some regions and older usage, 中餐 can also mean 'midday meal' (lunch), but this usage is less common in modern Mandarin where 午餐 is preferred for lunch.

Examples

1. 你今天想吃中餐还是西餐？ Do you want to eat Chinese food or Western food today?
2. 这家中餐馆的菜很好吃。 The dishes at this Chinese restaurant are delicious.
3. 我更喜欢吃中餐。 I prefer eating Chinese food.

Usage Guide

Context: food, everyday

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 我们去吃中餐吧。(Let's go eat Chinese food.)
• 这里的中餐味道很地道。(The Chinese food here tastes very authentic.)

Don't Say

• 我每天中餐吃面包。(Avoid using 中餐 to mean 'lunch' in modern speech — use 午餐 or 中午 instead. 中餐 primarily means 'Chinese cuisine.')

Origin & History

Compound of 中 (Chinese/middle) and 餐 (meal), literally 'Chinese meal.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal