Day 6: Food & Eating — Learn Chinese in 30 Days

What You’ll Learn Today

Food is the language of Chinese culture. Knowing how to order, compliment the food, and ask for the bill will make you an instantly popular dinner companion. Today’s vocabulary is extremely practical for anyone visiting or living in China.

The Most Important Phrase: 好吃

好吃 (hǎo chī) — literally “good eat” — means “delicious.” It’s the single most reliable compliment you can pay a Chinese cook. Say it enthusiastically and you’ll get more food.

The pattern works for other senses too:

• 好喝 (hǎo hē) — “good to drink” / tastes great (for drinks)
• 好看 (hǎo kàn) — “good to look at” / beautiful / good-looking
• 好听 (hǎo tīng) — “good to listen to” / sounds beautiful

Ordering Food

Basic ordering structure: I want + [item]

我要米饭。— Wǒ yào mǐ fàn. — I want rice. 我要一杯茶。— Wǒ yào yī bēi chá. — I want one cup of tea. 我要两瓶啤酒。— Wǒ yào liǎng píng pí jiǔ. — I want two bottles of beer.

Spice level is serious in China. Always clarify:

不要辣！— Bú yào là! — No spice please! (literally: don’t want spicy) 微辣就好。— Wēi là jiù hǎo. — Just a little spicy is fine.

Getting the Bill

Two equally correct ways to ask for the bill:

买单！ (Mǎi dān!) — “Check please!” (common in restaurants, just call out) 结账！ (Jié zhàng!) — “Time to pay!” (slightly more formal)

In China, it’s normal to loudly call out to the waiter rather than waiting for eye contact. Waving your hand or calling 服务员！ (Fú wù yuán! — “Waiter!”) is perfectly acceptable, not rude.

Sentence Patterns

Pattern 1: Complimenting the food

真好吃！— Zhēn hǎo chī! — Really delicious!

Pattern 2: Asking for something

可以给我一双筷子吗？— Kě yǐ gěi wǒ yī shuāng kuài zi ma? — Can you give me a pair of chopsticks?

Pattern 3: Dietary restrictions

我不吃肉。— Wǒ bù chī ròu. — I don’t eat meat. 我对花生过敏。— Wǒ duì huā shēng guò mǐn. — I’m allergic to peanuts.

Cultural Note

In China, sharing dishes is the norm. Everyone orders a few dishes that go in the center of the table, and everyone shares. Ordering something “just for yourself” at a group dinner can feel anti-social.

The toast at a Chinese dinner is 干杯！ (Gān bēi! — “Dry glass!” / “Cheers!”) — and it traditionally means you should empty your glass. At formal dinners with baijiu (Chinese rice liquor, often 50%+ alcohol), pace yourself strategically.

A very common phrase you’ll hear: 多吃点！ (Duō chī diǎn! — “Eat more!”) — the Chinese way of showing you care.

Practice Exercise

What would you say in these situations?

1. The food is amazing — you want to compliment it.
2. You want to order noodles.
3. You can’t eat spicy food — how do you warn the waiter?
4. It’s time to pay — what do you call out?

Answers: 1) 好吃！/ 真好吃！ 2) 我要面条。 3) 不要辣！ 4) 买单！