Beginners' Guide for Reading a Chinese Menu
If you find yourself a bit lost each time you enter a local restaurant, you’re not alone. It’s pretty easy to get by on simply pointing at something and saying ‘zhege,’ but come on. Since it's a new year, perhaps it's time to step up your Chinese a bit. We thought we'd help with a guide to some of the most basic things you’ll see on a Chinese menu.
Dish Bases
饭 - fàn - Rice
面 - miàn - Wheat Noodles
粉 - fěn - Rice Noodles
汤 - tāng - Soup
饺 - jiǎo - Dumplings
包 - bāo – Bun
Meats
肉 - ròu - Meat
牛 - niú – Beef
鸡 - jī -Chicken
猪 - zhū - Pork
鱼 - yú - Fish
鸭 - yā - Duck
羊 - yáng - Lamb
火腿 - huó tuǐ - Ham
海鲜 - hǎi xiān - Seafood
鸡蛋 - jī dàn - Egg
排/扒 - pái /pá – Cutlet
Vegetables
菜 - cài –Vegetable
土豆 - tǔ dòu – Potato
番茄 - fānqié - tomato
白菜 - bái cài - Cabbage
菠菜 - bō cài – Spinach
茄子 - qié zi – Eggplant
蘑菇 - mó gū - Mushroom
Spice
麻辣 - má là - Numbing spicy
微辣 - wēi là - Mild
中辣 - zhōng là - Medium spicy
Style
炒 - chǎo - Stir-fried
炸 - zhà - Deep-fried
蒸 - zhēng - Steamed
烧烤 - shāo kǎo - Barbequed
火锅 - huǒ guō - Hot pot
柱 - zhǔ – Boiled
Temperature
热 - rè - Warm
冰 - bīng - Iced
凉 - liáng - Cold
Drinks
汽水 – qì shuǐ - soda
可乐 – kě lè - cola - Coke -
雪碧 – xuě bì - Sprite
果汁 – guǒ zhī - fruit juice
橙汁 – chéng zhī - orange juice
苹果汁 – píng guǒ zhī - apple juice
葡萄汁 – pú táo zhī - grape juice
茶 – chá – tea
绿茶 – lǜ chá - green tea
红茶 – hóng chá - red tea
奶茶 – nǎi chá - milk tea
牛奶 – niú nǎi - milk
咖啡 – kā fēi - coffee
美式咖啡 – měi shì kā fēi - Americano
摩卡 – mó kǎ - mocha
浓咖啡 – nóng kā fēi - espresso
酒 – jiǔ - alcohol
啤酒 – pí jiǔ - beer
葡萄酒 – pú táo jiǔ - wine
红葡萄酒 – hóng pú táo jiǔ - red wine
白葡萄酒 – bái pú táo jiǔ - white wine
白酒 – bái jiǔ - Chinese spirits
伏特加酒 – fú tè jiā jiǔ - vodka
威士忌酒 -wēi shì jì jiǔ – whisky
Some other random phrases you might need
菜单 - cài dān - Menu
欢迎 - huān yíng - Welcome
几位 - jǐ wèi - How many people?
一碗 - yī wǎn - A bowl of
一盘 - yī pán - A plate of
主菜 – zhǔcài – Main
小菜 – xiǎocài - Cold dish/side dish (Literal: small dish)
甜点 – tiándiǎn – Dessert
沙拉 – shālā – Salad
酱 – jiàng – Sauce
我吃素 - Wǒ chī sù – I’m a vegetarian
这个菜有没有肉? - Zhège cài yǒu méiyǒu ròu? - Does this dish have meat?
我不能吃 ___ - wǒ bù néng chī ___ - I can’t eat ___
不用味精 - bú yòng wēi jìng - Please don’t use MSG
多一点 - duō yī diǎn - Can you give me a little more please?
带走 - dài zǒu - Take out
可以刷卡吗 - kě yǐ shuā kǎ ma - Do you accept cards?
一起付 - Yīqǐ fù - Pay together
分开付 - Fēnkāi fù - Pay separately
饭馆 - fàn guǎn - a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, much less formal than a regular restaurant
烧烤 - shāo kǎo - Chinese barbecue -
串 - chuàn - Skewers
三分熟 - sān fēn sh 51 29011 51 14941 0 0 952 0 0:00:30 0:00:15 0:00:15 2446 - Rare
四分熟 - sì fēn shú - Medium rare
五分熟 - wǔ fēn shú - Medium
七分熟 - qī fēn shú - Medium well
全熟 - quán shú - Well done
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