Basic Mandarin Food and Restaurant Vocabulary

Basic Mandarin Food and Restaurant Vocabulary
by Alex Evins (v.04/26)

Pinyin and phonetic pronunctions for the English speaker are provided below for common Chinese foods. When using pinyin, remember that:

Zh = J (e.g. Shenzhen = “Shen-jen”) | Q = Ch (e.g. Qingdao = “Ching-dao”) | X = Sh (ex. Xi’an = “She-ahn”)

Dumplings – Jiǎozi (“jiao’zuh”)

Boiled – shuǐjiǎo (“schway jee’ow”) (lit. “water dumpling”)

Steamed – zhēng jiǎo (“jung’jee’ow”)

Pan Fried – jiān jiǎo (“jien’jee’ow”)

Potstickers – guōtiē (“gwoah’tieh”)

Soup – tāng jiǎo (“tahng’jee’ow”)

Sour Soup Dumplings (Xi’an) – suān tāng shuǐjiǎo (“swan’tahng schway’jee’ow”)

Wonton – húntún (“hu’en tu’en”) / yún tūn (“yun tu’en”)

Wonton (Sichuan) – chāoshǒu (“chow’show”)

Chili/Red Oil Wontons – hóng yóu chāoshǒu (“hung’yo chow’show”)

Buns – Bāozi (“bao’zuh”) (More Info)

Plain Unfilled Steamed Bun – mántou (“man’toe”)

Plain Unfilled Fried “Golden” Bun – huángjīn mántou (“hwahng’jin man toe”)

Lotus Leaf Bun – hé yè bāo (“huuh yi’eh bao”)

Pork Belly Bun (Fuzhou) – gē bāo (“guh bao”)

Small Bun – xiǎobāo (“shiao’bao”)

Giant Bun –  dà bāo (“dah’bao”)

Water Fried Bun – shui’jian bao (“schway’jien bao”)

Soup Filled Bun – guàn tāng bāo (“guan tahng bao”)

Soup “Dumpling” (Steamed) – xiǎo lóng bāo (“shiao’long bao”)

Soup “Dumpling” (Giant) – dà tāng bāo (“dah tahng’bao”)

Soup Bun (Pan Fried) – shēng jiān bāo (“shung’jien bao”)

Soup Bun (Leavened/Wuhan) – xiǎo lóng tāng bāo (“shiao long tahng’bao”)

BBQ Pork Bun (Steamed) – chāshāo bāo (“cha’shao bao”)

BBQ Pork Bun (Baked) – chāshāo cān bāo (“cha’shao chahn bao”)

Rice – Mǐfàn (“mee fahn”)

Congee (Rice Porridge) – zhōu (“joe”)

Fried Rice – chǎofàn (“chow fahn”)

Sweet Rice Balls – tāngyuán (“tahng'yuen”)

Fried Glutinous Rice Balls – táng yóu guǒzi (“tahng'yo gwoah’zuh”)

Bread – Bǐng (“bing”)

Chinese “Crepe/Pancake” – jiānbing (“jien’bing”)

Chinese “Hamburger” – ròu jiā mó (“roe’jiah’moah”)

ròu jiā bǐng (“roe’jiah bing”)

Stuffed Pie – xiàn bǐng (“she’en bing”)

Meat Pie – ròu bǐng (“roe bing”)

Doornail Pattie – méndīng ròu bǐng (“mending roe bing”)

Guokui (Sweet/Savory Flatbread) – guōkuī (“gwoah'kwhey”)

Mooncake – yuèbǐng (“yueh bing”)

Scallion Pancake – cōng yóubǐng (“chong’yo bing”)

Spring Pancake (Peking Duck) – chūnbǐng (“chwun bing”)

Stuffed Layered Flatbread – shāobǐng (“shao bing”)

Youtiao (Savory Fried Dough Stick) – yóutiáo (“yo tee’ow”)

Meat – Ròu (“roe”)

Beef – niúròu (“neoh’roe”)

Pork – zhūròu (“jew’roe”)

Chicken – jīròu (“jee’roe”)

Egg – jīdàn (“jee’dahn”)

Mutton – yángròu (“yahng’roe”)

Duck – yā ròu (“ya’roe”)

Roast Duck – kǎoyā (“cow’ya”)

Century Egg – pīdàn (“pee dahn”)

Skewer – kǎoròu chuàn (“cow roe chwan”)

Seafood – Hǎixiān (“high she’en”)

Fish – yúròu (“yu’roe”)

Fish Ball – yúwán (“yu’won”)

Shrimp – xiā (“she’ah”)

Mantis Shrimp – lài niào xiā (“lie neow she’ah”)

Squid – wūzéi (“woo zay”)

Lobster – lóngxiā (“long she’ah”)

Crab – pángxiè (“pahng shieh”)

Hairy Crab – dàzháxiè (“da’ja shieh”)

Oyster – mǔlì (“moo lee”)

Raw Oyster – shēngháo (“shung how”)

Cantonese Dim Sum / Yum Cha – Guǎng Shì Diǎnxīn (“guang she dee’en shin”)

BBQ Pork Bun (Baked) – chāshāo cān bāo (“cha’shao chahn bao”)

BBQ Pork Bun (Steamed) – chāshāo bāo (“cha’shao bao”)

Chaozhou Fun Guo (Chiu Chow Dumpling) – cháozhōu fěn guǒ (“chow-joe fun gwo'ah”)

Chicken Feet – fèng zhuǎ (“fung j’wah”)

Durian Bun – liúlián bāo (“leo lee’en bao”)

Egg Custard Bun – nǎi huáng bāo (“nai’hwahng bao”)

Salted Egg Yolk "Lava" Buns – liúshā bāo (“lioh’sha bao”)

Egg Tart – dàntà (“dahn tah”)

Ham Sui Gok (Fried Glutinous Rice Dumpling) – xiánshuǐ jiǎo (“she’en schway jee’ow”)

Har Gow (Shrimp Dumpling) – xiā jiǎo (“shah’jee’ow”)

Lo Mai Gai (Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice) – nuòmǐ jī (“no me jee”)

Pan Fried Chive Dumplings – shēng jiān jiǔcài jiǎo (“shung’jien jee'oh chai jee’ow”)

Pineapple Bun – bōluó bāo (“boo’luah bao”)

Rice Noodle Rolls – cháng fěn (“chaang fen”)

Rice Roll with Youtiao – zhà liǎng (“jah li’ahng”)

Red Rice Roll with Shrimp – jīnshā hóng mǐ cháng fěn (“jinsha hohng me chaang fen”)

Sesame Ball – jiān duī (“jien’dway”)

Shumai – shāo mài (“shao’mai”)

Steamed Spare Ribs – zhēng páigǔ (“jung pie goo”)

Stuffed Peppers – niàng làjiāo (“knee’ahng lah’jee’ow”)

Taro Cake – yùtóu gāo (“yu tow gao”)

Taro Dumpling – yù jiǎo (“yu jee’ow”)

Turnip/Raddish Cake – luóbo gāo (“low bao gao”)

Other Common Dishes

Hot Pot – huǒguō (“hwo’ah gwo’ah”)

Tofu – dòufu (“doh foo”)

Mapo Tofu – má pó dòufu (“mah poe doh foo”)

Stinky Tofu – chòu dòufu (“cho doh foo”)

Beverages – Yǐnliào (“yin lay'ow”)

Bottled Water – píngzhuāng shuǐ (“ping jew’ahng schway”)

# Bottle(s) of Water – # píng shuǐ (“ping schway”)

Bottled Mineral Water – kuàngquán shuǐ (“k’wahng chew’en schway”)

Iced Tea – bīng chá (“bing cha”)

Iced Red Tea – bīng hóngchá (“bing hohng cha”)

Bubble Tea – zhēnzhū nǎichá (“jen jew nai cha”)

Bubble Milk Tea – bōbà nǎichá (“bao bah nai cha”)

Alcohol – Jiǔ (“jew”)

Beer – píjiǔ (“pee jee’oh”)

Chinese Distilled Spirit/"Wine" – báijiǔ (“bye jee’oh”) (lit. “white liquor”)

Chinese Rice Wine – huángjiǔ (“h’wahng jee’oh”) (lit. “yellow liquor”)

Cheers!  – gānbēi (“gahn bay”)

Restaurant Terms

Napkins – cānjīn (“tahn gin”)

Chopsticks – kuàizi (“k’why zuh”)

Glass/Cup – bēizi (“bay zuh”)

Waiter/Waitress – fúwùyuán (“foo-woo you’en”)

Menu – càidān (“thai dahn”)

Check/Bill – mǎidān (“my dahn”)

Credit Card – xìnyòngkǎ (“she yuhng kah”)

Descriptors

Great – tài hǎole (“thai how luh”)

Awesome – tài bàngle (“thai bahng luh”)

Tastes Great – wèidào hào jíle (“way dao how jee’luh”)

Delicious – hěn hào chī (“hun how chew”)

Very Delicious – hào chī jíle (“how chew jee’luh”)

So Delicious – tài hào chīle (“thai how chew luh”)

So F-ing Good – tài tā mā hǎole (“thai tah mah how luh”)

Smells Good – hǎo xiāng a (“how she’ahng ah”)

So Fragrant – tài xiāngle (“thai she’ahng luh”)

I Am Full – chī bǎole (“chew bao luh”)

Noodles – Miàntiáo (“me’en te’ow”)

Wheat Noodle – miàn (“me’en”)

Non-Wheat Noodles – fēn (“fen”)

Rice Noodles – mǐxiàn (“me she’en”)

Rice Noodles (Vermicelli) – mǐfěn (“me fen”)

Rice Noodles (Wide) – shāhé fěn (“sha huuh fen”)

Egg Noodles – jīdàn miàn (“jidan me’en”)

Hand Pulled Noodles – lāmiàn (“lah me’en”)

Hand Torn Noodles – miàn piàn (“me’en pee’en”)

Knife Cut/Shaved Noodles – dāoxiāomiàn (“dao she’ow me’en”)

Stir Fried Noodles – chǎomiàn (“chow me’en”)

Noodle Soup – tāngmiàn (“tahng me’en”)

Common Regional Noodle Dishes (Map of Chinese Cuisines)

Beijing

Soybean Paste Noodles – zhá jiàng miàn (“ja’jiahng me’en”)

Shanghai

Scallion Oil Noodle – cōng yóu miàn (“chong’yo me’en”)

Sesame Noodles – májiàng miàn (“mah’jiahng me’en”)

Nanjing

Duck Blood Noodle Soup – yā xiě fěnsī tāng (“ya shieh fensue tahng”)

Chengdu

Twice Cooked Pork Noodles – huíguōròu miàn (“h’way gwoah’roe me’en”)

Dan Dan Noodles – dàndàn miàn (“dahn dahn me’en”)

Yibin Burning Noodles – Yíbīn rán miàn (“ee bin ran me’en”)

Sweet Water Noodles – tián shuǐmiàn (“tee’en schway me’en”)

Cold Skin Noodles – liángpí (“li’ahng pee”)

One Strand Noodle – yī gēn miàn (“yee gun me'en”)

Chongqing

Chongqing Little Noodles – Chóngqìng xiǎo miàn (“Chong-ching shiao me’en”)

Pea Noodles – wān zá miàn (“wahn zah me’en”)

Hot and Sour Potato Noodles – suān là fěn (“swan lah fen”)

Xi’an

Biang Biang (Broad Noodle) – biángbiáng miàn (“bee’ahng bee’ahng me’en”)

Oil Splashing Noodles – yóu pō miàn (“yo poo'ah me’en”)

Guangzhou/Hong Kong

Rice Noodle Rolls – cháng fěn (“chaang fen”)

Wonton Noodles – yún tūn miàn (“yun tu’en me’en”)

Shrimp Roe Noodles – xiā zǐ miàn (“sha’zuh mian”)

Tossed Noodles – lāo miàn (“lao me’en”)

Soy Sauce (Fried) Noodles – chǐ yóu huáng chǎomiàn (“chee yo hwang chow me’en”)

Long Life (Egg) Noodles – yī miàn (“yee me’en”)

Other

Any: Fried Sauce Noodles – zhá jiàng miàn (“ja’jiahng me’en”)

Fujian: Misua – miàn xiàn (“me’en she’en”)

Guilin: Rice Noodles – Guìlín mǐfěn (“Gwee’lin me fen”)

Hangzhou: ‘Blanched Slice’ Noodles – piān er chuān (“pee’en are chwan”)

Henan: Big Knife Noodles – dàdāo miàn (“dah dao me’en”)

Kunming: Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles – guò qiáo mǐxiàn (“gwoah chiow me she’en”)

Lanzhou: Hand-Pulled Noodles – lāmiàn (“lah me’en”)

Shandong: Dragon Beard Noodles – lóng xū miàn (“long shoe me’en”)

Shanxi: Cat’s Ear Noodles – māo ěrduǒ (“mao are duah”)

Flicked Noodles – tī jiān er (“tee jien are”)

Scissor Cut Noodles – jiǎndāo miàn (“jien dao me’en”)

Rolled Oat Noodles – yóu miàn kǎo lǎo lǎo (“yo me’en cow lao lao”)

Extruded Noodles – hé le miàn (“huah luh me'en”)

Three Layer Noodles – bāopí miàn (“bao pee me'en”)

Wuhan: Hot Dry Noodles – rè gān miàn (“ruah’gahn me’en”)

Zhenjiang: Pot Lid Noodles – guō gài miàn (“gwoah guy me’en”)

Flavors – Wèidào (“weigh dow”)

Spicy – là (“lah”)

Numbing Spicy – málà (“mah lah”)

Sichuan Peppercorn – huājiāo (“h’wah jee’ow”)

Very Numbing Spicy – tèmá tèlà (“tuh’mah tuh’lah”)

Sweet – tián (“tee’en”)

Salty – xián (“she’en”)

Bitter – kǔ (“kooh”)

Sour – suān (“swan”)

Cooking Preparations – Pēngrèn (“pung ren”)

Roasted – kǎo (“cow”)

Stir Fried – chǎo (“chow”)

Steamed – qīngzhēng (“ching jung”)

Braised – mèn (“mun”)

In Oil – yǒu (“yo”)

Soup – tāng (“tahng”)

Cold Dish – liángcài (“lee’ahng thai”)

Side Dish – xiǎocài (“she’ow thai”)

Sauces – Jiàng (“jee’ahng”)

Chili Sauce – làjiāo jiàng (“lah’jee’ow jee’ahng”)

Soy Sauce – jiàngyóu (“jee’ahng yo”)

Vinegar – cù (“two”)

Sesame Paste – zhīmajiàng (“juh’mah jee’ahng”)

Sizes

Small – xiǎo (“she’ow”)

Medium – zhōng (“jung”)

Large – dà (“dah”)

Quantities/Numbers

1 – yī (“yee”)

2 – liǎng (“lee’ang”)

3 – sān (“sahn”)

4 – sì (“su”)

5 – wǔ (“wu”)

Quantity/Size Suffixes

Item/Piece – -gè (“guh”)

Portion – -fèn (“fun”)

Cup/Glass – -bēi (“bay”)

Bottle – -píng (“ping”)

People – -rén (“rehn”)

Useful Restaurant Phrases

Just a moment please | 请等一下

Qǐng děng yīxià

(“Ching dung yee’shah”)

[Please – qǐng (“ching”)]

Can you suggest some dishes? | 你能推荐一些菜吗?

Nǐ néng tuījiàn yīxiē cài ma

(“Knee nung twee jee’en yee she’ah thai mah”)

What do you suggest? | 你有什么建议?

Nǐ yǒu shé me jiànyì?

(“Knee yo shh’ma jee’ahn yee”)

What is this/that? | 这/那是什么?

Zhè/Nà shì shénme

(“Juh/nah she shen mah”)

[This – zhège (“jih’guh”) / That – nàgè (“nih’guh”)]

I'll have… | 我要...

Wǒ yào

(“Woah yow”)

[Wǒ yào + [Number]-fèn + [Dish] = I would like __ orders of __ ]

[Wǒ yào yī fèn zhège = I would like one order of this]

One More | 再来一个请

Zàilái yīgè

(“Zai lie yee’guh”)

How much is it? | 多少钱?

Duōshǎo qián

(“Duah shao chi’en”)

May I pay with a credit card? | 我能用信用卡支付吗?

Wǒ néng yòng xìnyòngkǎ zhīfù ma

(“Wǒ’nung yung she yuhng kah jifu’ma”)

Thanks / Thank you | 谢谢 / 谢谢你

Xièxiè / Xièxiè nǐ

(“sheh-sheh” / “sheh-sheh knee”)