Chinese food (Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.Zhōng Guó cài) is popular in the western world - there are many Chinese restaurants in the UK.
Traditional Chinese food
Some authentic Chinese dishes include:
| Mandarin | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | bāo zi | steamed bun, with different fillings |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | jiǎo zi | dumpling |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | hún tun | wonton |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | miàn tiáo | noodles |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | jiān bǐng | pancake |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | chǎo qīng cài | stir-fried vegetables |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | chǎo fàn | fried rice |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | táng cù pái gǔ | sweet and sour pork ribs |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Běi jīng kǎo yā | Peking duck |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | yóu tiáo | fried bread stick |
Did you know?
‘Peking’ is the old name for Beijing.
It is now only used for a few things, like Peking duck.
Ordering food at a restaurant
When you are in a Chinese restaurant, the waiter (Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.fú wù yuán) will ask you:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.Nín xiǎng chī diǎn shén me? - What do you want to eat?
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.Nín xiǎng hē diǎn shén me? - What do you want to drink?
These translate more literally to ‘You want to eat/drink a little what?’
You can respond in Mandarin using Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.Wǒ yào (I want), along with:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.yī gè - for one at a time, eg a steamed bun
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.yī wǎn - for a bowl, eg of wontons
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.yī pán - for a plate, eg of dumplings
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. yī fèn - for a portion, eg of vegetable stir fry and most other dishes
So, to order different foods in Mandarin you could say:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.Wǒ yào yī gè bāo zi - I want a bun
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.Wǒ yào yī wǎn hún tun - I want a bowl of wontons
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.Wǒ yào yī pán jiǎo zi - I want a plate of dumplings
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.Wǒ yào yī fèn chǎo qīng cài - I want a portion of vegetable stir fry
Learn how to make your own Chinese dumplings in this recipe guide.
Take your learning further
Discover which special food is eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.
More on Talking topics
Find out more by working through a topic
- count16 of 16
- count1 of 16
- count2 of 16
- count3 of 16
