If you want to visit any Chinese restaurant to have your food in China then these common words may help you out to order your food even without speaking fluent Mandarin Chinese with their waiter.
For those who regularly travels to China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong gong or looking to travel to the these countries, these common words list will be really useful.
Drinking
Alcoholic
- Píjiǔ: Beer
- Báijiǔ: white Liquor
- Shàoxīngjiǔ: Shaoxing fermented rice wine
- Hóng pútáojiǔ: Red Grape wine | Short cut: Hóng jiǔ: Red Wine
- Bái pútáojiǔ: White Grape wine | Short cut: Bái pútáojiǔ: White wine
- Gānbēi: Cheers!
Non-alcoholic
- Guǒzhī: Fruit juice
- Yī píng shuǐ: One bottle of water
- Bīng shuǐ: Ice water
- Kěkǒukělè or Kělè: Coca-Cola
- Xuěbì: Sprite
- Kāfēi: Coffee
- Dòujiāng: Fresh soymilk
- Niúnǎi: “cow’s milk”
Tea
- Hóngchá: Black tea
- Lǜchá: Green tea
- Mòlìhuāchá: Jasmine tea
- Wūlóngchá: Oolong tea
- Júhuā chá: Chrysanthemum tea
- Nǎichá: Milk tea/bubble tea
Food
For the carnivore
- Ròu: Meat
- Jī ròu: Chicken
- Niúròu: Beef
- Zhū ròu: Pork
- Yáng ròu: Mutton
From the sea
- Hǎixiān: Seafood
- Yú: Fish
- Xiā: Shrimp
- Xiè: Crab
- Lóngxiā: Lobster
Vegetables
- Dòufu: Tofu
- Dòuyá: Bean sprout
- Bōcài: Spinach
- Báicài: Cabbage
- Cōng: Scallion/Onion
- Sǔn: Bamboo shoot
- Mógu: Mushroom
- Xīhóngshì/ Fān qié: Tomato
- Yùmǐ: Corn
- Tǔdòu: Potato
- Qiézi: Eggplant
Main Menu
Chǎo fàn: Fried rice
Mǐfàn: White rice
Jiǎozi: Dumplings
Húntún: Wonton
Tāng: Soup
Bāozi: Stuffed Steamed bun
Mántou: Plain Steamed bun
Chǎomiàn: Fried noodles
Tāngmiàn: Noodle Soup
Zhōu: Congee/Porridge
Yóutiáo: Cruller
Jīdàn: Egg
Cháyè dàn: Tea-soaked egg
Pídàn: Century-old egg
China Regional Dishes
- Sìchuān Huǒguō: Sichuan hot pot
- Chāshāo: Cantonese barbeque pork
- Běijīng kǎoyā: Beijing roast duck
- Lánzhōu lāmiàn: Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles
- Xiǎolóng bāo: Shanghai small steamed buns
- Yángròu chuan: Chinese Barbeque mutton skewers
- Dōng pō zhū ròu: Hangzhou braised pork belly
- Hézǐ jiān: Fujian Oyster Omlete
- Chǎngshā chòu dòufu: Changsha-style stinky tofu
Flavor
- Là: Spicy
- Má là: Numbing spicy
- Suān: Sour
- Xián: Salty
- Tián: Sweet
- Kǔ: Bitter
- Xiān: Umami
- Chòu: Smelly or pungent
- Wèidào: Taste/smell
Spices/Seasoning
- Jiàngyóu: Soy sauce
- Cù: Vinegar
- Dàsuàn: Garlic
- Jiāng: Ginger
- Zhīma: Sesame
- Làjiāo: Hot pepper
- Huājiāo: Sichuan peppercorn (literally “flower pepper”)
Good To Know
- Chī fàn: To eat
- Zǎocān: Breakfast
- Wǔcān/Wǔfàn: Lunch
- Wǎncān/Wǎnfàn: Dinner
- Diǎnxīn: Dessert
- Cānguǎn: Restaurant
- Gè rén: (Number) of people
- Fúwùyuán: Waiter/waitress
- Kuàizi: Chopsticks
- Chā: Fork
- Wǒ chī sù: I am vegetarian.
- Wǒ yào zhège: I would like this one.
- Yǒu shénme hào chī de: What’s good to eat?
- Zhè shì shénme: What is this?
- Càidān: Menu
- Diǎn cài: To order
- Duōshǎo qián: How much (does it cost)?
- Hěn hào chī: Delicious
- Zhēn bàng: Awesome