Food Vocabulary in Chinese: Order Like a Local

One of the most exciting parts of learning Chinese is being able to order food like a local. China’s food culture is rich, diverse, and delicious, and knowing the right words can make your dining experience much easier and more enjoyable.

This blog-post will introduce essential food vocabulary, dishes, drinks, and useful phrases for ordering in restaurants or street food stalls. Each word includes example sentences in Chinese, pinyin, and English to help you practice naturally.

Common Food Items

1. Rice (米饭, mǐfàn) – Staple food in most Chinese meals.
   • 我每天吃米饭。
   • Wǒ měitiān chī mǐfàn.
   • I eat rice every day.
2. Noodles (面条, miàntiáo) – Can be fried, soup, or stir-fried.
   • 我喜欢吃炒面条。
   • Wǒ xǐhuan chī chǎo miàntiáo.
   • I like to eat fried noodles.
3. Dumplings (饺子, jiǎozi) – Traditional dish, often eaten during holidays.
   • 我会做饺子。
   • Wǒ huì zuò jiǎozi.
   • I can make dumplings.
4. Soup (汤, tāng) – Can be meat, vegetable, or herbal.
   • 这碗汤很好喝。
   • Zhè wǎn tāng hěn hǎo hē.
   • This bowl of soup is delicious.
5. Vegetables (蔬菜, shūcài) – Essential for a healthy meal.
   • 我每天吃蔬菜。
   • Wǒ měitiān chī shūcài.
   • I eat vegetables every day.

Meat and Protein

6. Chicken (鸡肉, jīròu) – Popular meat in many dishes.
   • 我喜欢吃鸡肉。
   • Wǒ xǐhuan chī jīròu.
   • I like to eat chicken.
7. Beef (牛肉, niúròu) – Often stir-fried or in hot pot.
   • 这道菜有牛肉吗？
   • Zhè dào cài yǒu niúròu ma?
   • Does this dish have beef?
8. Pork (猪肉, zhūròu) – Common in Chinese cooking.
   • 我们吃猪肉炒菜。
   • Wǒmen chī zhūròu chǎocài.
   • We eat stir-fried pork dishes.
9. Fish (鱼, yú) – Often steamed or fried.
   • 鱼很新鲜。
   • Yú hěn xīnxiān.
   • The fish is very fresh.
10. Egg (蛋, dàn) – Can be boiled, fried, or in dishes.
    • 我喜欢吃煎蛋。
    • Wǒ xǐhuan chī jiān dàn.
    • I like to eat fried eggs.

Fruits and Snacks

11. Apple (苹果, píngguǒ) –
    • 我每天吃一个苹果。
    • Wǒ měitiān chī yī gè píngguǒ.
    • I eat an apple every day.
12. Banana (香蕉, xiāngjiāo) –
    • 香蕉很甜。
    • Xiāngjiāo hěn tián.
    • Bananas are sweet.
13. Orange (橙子, chéngzi) –
    • 我喜欢吃橙子。
    • Wǒ xǐhuan chī chéngzi.
    • I like to eat oranges.
14. Cake (蛋糕, dàngāo) –
    • 生日蛋糕很好吃。
    • Shēngrì dàngāo hěn hǎo chī.
    • The birthday cake is delicious.
15. Snack (零食, língshí) –
    • 孩子们喜欢吃零食。
    • Háizimen xǐhuan chī língshí.
    • Children like to eat snacks.

Popular Chinese Dishes

16. Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁, gōng bǎo jī dīng) – Spicy stir-fried chicken with peanuts.
    • 我点了一份宫保鸡丁。
    • Wǒ diǎn le yī fèn gōng bǎo jī dīng.
    • I ordered a plate of Kung Pao Chicken.
17. Sweet and Sour Pork (糖醋里脊, tángcù lǐjǐ) – Sweet and tangy pork dish.
    • 我喜欢吃糖醋里脊。
    • Wǒ xǐhuan chī tángcù lǐjǐ.
    • I like to eat sweet and sour pork.
18. Hot Pot (火锅, huǒguō) – Cook your food in boiling broth.
    • 冬天我们吃火锅。
    • Dōngtiān wǒmen chī huǒguō.
    • We eat hot pot in winter.
19. Fried Rice (炒饭, chǎofàn) – Stir-fried rice with vegetables or meat.
    • 我每天吃炒饭。
    • Wǒ měitiān chī chǎofàn.
    • I eat fried rice every day.
20. Dumplings (水饺, shuǐjiǎo) – Boiled dumplings.
    • 我喜欢吃水饺。
    • Wǒ xǐhuan chī shuǐjiǎo.
    • I like to eat boiled dumplings.

Drinks and Beverages

21. Water (水, shuǐ) – Essential for every meal.
    • 请给我一杯水。
    • Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ.
    • Please give me a glass of water.
22. Tea (茶, chá) – Popular drink, green or black tea.
    • 我喜欢喝茶。
    • Wǒ xǐhuan hē chá.
    • I like to drink tea.
23. Coffee (咖啡, kāfēi) – Coffee is popular in modern China.
    • 我早上喝咖啡。
    • Wǒ zǎoshang hē kāfēi.
    • I drink coffee in the morning.
24. Juice (果汁, guǒzhī) – Fresh fruit juice.
    • 我喝橙子果汁。
    • Wǒ hē chéngzi guǒzhī.
    • I drink orange juice.
25. Milk (牛奶, niúnǎi) – Common for breakfast.
    • 我每天早上喝牛奶。
    • Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang hē niúnǎi.
    • I drink milk every morning.

Restaurant Phrases

26. I want to order (我要点, wǒ yào diǎn) –
    • 我要点宫保鸡丁。
    • Wǒ yào diǎn gōng bǎo jī dīng.
    • I want to order Kung Pao Chicken.
27. Can I have…? (可以给我…, kěyǐ gěi wǒ…) –
    • 可以给我一杯茶吗？
    • Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yī bēi chá ma?
    • Can I have a cup of tea?
28. Delicious! (好吃, hǎo chī) –
    • 这个菜很好吃！
    • Zhè ge cài hěn hǎo chī!
    • This dish is delicious!
29. Too spicy (太辣, tài là) –
    • 这个菜太辣了。
    • Zhè ge cài tài là le.
    • This dish is too spicy.
30. Bill / Check (账单, zhàngdān) –
    • 请给我账单。
    • Qǐng gěi wǒ zhàngdān.
    • Please give me the bill.

Street Food Favorites

31. Skewers (串, chuàn) – Meat or vegetables on sticks.
    • 我想吃烤串。
    • Wǒ xiǎng chī kǎo chuàn.
    • I want to eat grilled skewers.
32. Baozi (包子, bāozi) – Steamed stuffed buns.
    • 早餐我吃包子。
    • Zǎocān wǒ chī bāozi.
    • I eat steamed buns for breakfast.
33. Spring Roll (春卷, chūnjuǎn) – Fried or fresh rolls.
    • 我喜欢吃春卷。
    • Wǒ xǐhuan chī chūnjuǎn.
    • I like spring rolls.
34. Noodle Soup (面汤, miàntāng) – Hot soup with noodles.
    • 冬天我喝面汤。
    • Dōngtiān wǒ hē miàntāng.
    • I drink noodle soup in winter.
35. Pancake (煎饼, jiānbǐng) – Popular breakfast snack.
    • 我早上吃煎饼。
    • Wǒ zǎoshang chī jiānbǐng.
    • I eat a pancake in the morning.

Useful Words for Tasting and Ordering

36. Spicy (辣, là) –
    • 这个很辣。
    • Zhè ge hěn là.
    • This is spicy.
37. Sweet (甜, tián) –
    • 这个糖果很甜。
    • Zhè ge tángguǒ hěn tián.
    • This candy is sweet.
38. Sour (酸, suān) –
    • 这汤有点酸。
    • Zhè tāng yǒudiǎn suān.
    • This soup is a bit sour.
39. Salty (咸, xián) –
    • 这菜太咸了。
    • Zhè cài tài xián le.
    • This dish is too salty.
40. Delicious (美味, měiwèi) –
    • 这个菜非常美味！
    • Zhè ge cài fēicháng měiwèi!
    • This dish is extremely delicious!

New Words from This Blog-Post

1. 米饭 (mǐfàn) – rice
2. 面条 (miàntiáo) – noodles
3. 饺子 (jiǎozi) – dumplings
4. 鸡肉 (jīròu) – chicken
5. 牛肉 (niúròu) – beef
6. 猪肉 (zhūròu) – pork
7. 鱼 (yú) – fish
8. 蔬菜 (shūcài) – vegetables
9. 菜单 (càidān) – menu
10. 火锅 (huǒguō) – hot pot
11. 茶 (chá) – tea
12. 咖啡 (kāfēi) – coffee
13. 果汁 (guǒzhī) – juice
14. 包子 (bāozi) – steamed bun
15. 煎饼 (jiānbǐng) – pancake