中餐

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

含义

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.

例句

1. 你今天想吃中餐还是西餐？
2. 这家中餐馆的菜很好吃。
3. 我更喜欢吃中餐。

用法指南

语境: food, everyday

语气: casual

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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.')

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal