Basic Food Terms and Phrases in Mandarin

Teaching Nomad · Dec 13, 2019

Being able to recognize a few basic terms and phrases in Mandarin will help you out tremendously when you move to China. Ordering and knowing what food you will be served is very important, so we’ve listed a few of the common phrases that you’ll need to say in restaurants, as well as some popular foods.

Helpful phrases for eating out or ordering food

1. I don’t want spicy food

Wǒ bùyào là (woh boo-yao la)

我不要辣

2. I want this one

Wǒ yào zhège (woh yao jeguh)

我要这个

3. I want to order one noodle soup

Wǒ yàodiǎn yī fèn tāngmiàn (wo yao-dien yee fen tahng-mien)

我要点一份汤面

4. When you can’t eat any more

Chī bùxià (chuh boo-shee-yuh)

吃不下

5. When you’re full

Wǒ bǎole (woh bao-luh)

我饱了

6. What’s good to eat?

Yǒu shénme hào chī de (you shen-muh hao she duh)

有什么好吃的

7. How much (does it cost)?

Duōshǎo qián (doo-shao gee-en)

多少钱

8. What is this?

Zhè shì shénme (juh she shen-muh)

这是什么

Recognizing different foods

For the carnivore:

Ròu (row): Meat
Jī ròu (jee-row): Chicken
Niúròu (neuw-row): Beef
Zhū ròu (joo-row): Pork
Yáng ròu (yong-row): Mutton

From the sea:

Hǎixiān (hi-shien): Seafood
Yú (you): Fish
Xiā (she-yah): Shrimp
Xiè (she-yeh): Crab
Lóngxiā (long-she-yah): Lobster

Veggies:

Dòufu (doh-fu): Tofu
Bōcài (baw-tsye): Spinach
Báicà (bye-tsye)i: Cabbage
Mógu (maw-goo): Mushroom
Xīhóngshì/ Fān qié (see-hong-she/fahn-chyeh): Tomato
Yùmǐ (yew-me): Corn
Tǔdòu (too-doe): Potato
Qiézi (chyeh-dzuh): Eggplant

Menu mainstays:

Mǐfàn (mee-fahn): White rice
Chǎo fàn (chaow-fahn): Fried rice
Jiǎozi (jee-ow-zge): Dumplings
Húntún (hwun-dwun): Wonton
Tāng (tahng): Soup
Bāozi (bao-zuh): Stuffed steamed bun
Mántou (man-tow): Plain steamed bun
Chǎomiàn (chow-mien): Fried noodles
Tāngmiàn (tahng-mien): Noodle soup
Jīdàn (gee-dahn): Egg

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