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Chinese food (Öйú²Ë Zh¨­ng Gu¨® c¨¤i) is popular in the western world - there are many Chinese restaurants in the UK.

Some authentic Chinese dishes include:

Did you know?

¡®Peking¡¯ is the old name for Beijing.

It is now only used for a few things, like Peking duck.

When you are in a Chinese restaurant, the waiter (·þÎñÔ± f¨² w¨´ yu¨¢n) will ask you:

• ÄúÏë³Ôµãʲô£¿ N¨ªn xi¨£ng ch¨© di¨£n sh¨¦n me? - What do you want to eat?

• ÄúÏëºÈµãʲô£¿ N¨ªn xi¨£ng h¨¥ di¨£n sh¨¦n 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 ÎÒÒª W¨¯ y¨¤o (I want), along with:

• Ò»¸ö y¨© g¨¨ - for one at a time, eg a steamed bun

• Ò»Íë y¨© w¨£n - for a bowl, eg of wontons

• Ò»ÅÌ y¨© p¨¢n - for a plate, eg of dumplings

• Ò»·Ý y¨© f¨¨n - for a portion, eg of vegetable stir fry and most other dishes

So, to order different foods in Mandarin you could say:

• ÎÒÒªÒ»¸ö°ü×Ó W¨¯ y¨¤o y¨© g¨¨ b¨¡o zi - I want a bun

• ÎÒÒªÒ»ÍëâÆâ½ W¨¯ y¨¤o y¨© w¨£n h¨²n tun - I want a bowl of wontons

• ÎÒÒªÒ»Å̽È×Ó W¨¯ y¨¤o y¨© p¨¢n ji¨£o zi - I want a plate of dumplings

• ÎÒÒªÒ»·Ý³´Çà²Ë W¨¯ y¨¤o y¨© f¨¨n ch¨£o q¨©ng c¨¤i - 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.