大象传媒

Chinese food ( 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:

MandarinPinyinEnglish
bāo zisteamed bun, with different fillings
jiǎo zidumpling
hún tunwonton
miàn tiáonoodles
jiān bǐngpancake
chǎo qīng cài stir-fried vegetables
chǎo fànfried rice
táng cù pái gǔsweet and sour pork ribs
Běi jīng kǎo yāPeking duck
yóu tiáofried bread stick
A lightbulb.

Did you know?

‘Peking’ is the old name for Beijing.

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

A lightbulb.

How to order food in Mandarin

When you are in a Chinese restaurant, the waiter will ask you:

  • Nín xiǎng chī diǎn shén me? - What do you want to eat?

  • 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?’

A waiter carries a plate of dumplings.

You can respond in Mandarin using Wǒ yào (I want), along with:

  • yī gè - for one at a time, eg a steamed bun

  • yī wǎn - for a bowl, eg of wontons

  • yī pán - for a plate, eg of dumplings

  • yī fèn - for a portion, eg of vegetable stir fry and most other dishes

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

  • Wǒ yào yī gè bāo zi - I want a bun

  • Wǒ yào yī wǎn hún tun - I want a bowl of wontons

  • Wǒ yào yī pán jiǎo zi - I want a plate of dumplings

  • Wǒ yào yī fèn chǎo qīng cài - I want a portion of vegetable stir fry

Back to top

Bitesize Primary games. game

Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.

Bitesize Primary games
Back to top

More on Topics

Find out more by working through a topic