食堂

• Pinyin: shí táng
• Hanzi breakdown: 食 = 人 (person) + 良 (good), originally depicting a covered food vessel; 堂 = 尚 (still) + 土 (earth), a large hall

Meaning

Canteen; cafeteria; dining hall.

A communal dining facility typically found in schools, workplaces, hospitals, and military bases. Food is usually affordable and served in large quantities. Not used for commercial restaurants open to the general public.

Examples

1. 学校食堂的饭菜又便宜又好吃。 The school canteen food is both cheap and delicious.
2. 中午我们一起去食堂吃饭吧。 Let's go to the cafeteria together for lunch.
3. 公司食堂每天提供不同的菜。 The company canteen provides different dishes every day.

Usage Guide

Context: school, workplace, everyday

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 食堂今天有我最喜欢的红烧肉。(The canteen has my favourite braised pork today.)
• 大学食堂一般比外面的餐厅便宜。(University canteens are generally cheaper than restaurants outside.)

Don't Say

• 我们去那家食堂吃火锅吧。(Don't call a commercial restaurant a 食堂 — use 餐厅 or 饭店 for public restaurants.)

Origin & History

Compound of 食 (food, to eat) and 堂 (hall), literally 'food hall.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal