From Waimai to Dine-in: 5 Ways to Eat in Chinese

We've been waiting for this for a long time: dine-in service in low-risk areas?finally resumes this week!

Learn 5 ways to describe having a meal in China — and enjoy your dinner out with friends.

01. DINE-IN

The first question you will probably hear in most cafes and?restaurants in China is?whether you'd like to dine in or?take away.

Use these phrases if you?want to dine in:

堂食 / 堂吃

táng shí / táng chī

to dine in

(在)这里吃 / (在)店里吃

(zài) zhèlǐ chī / (zài) diàn lǐ chī

to dine here / to dine in the restaurant

And this week you will notice in headlines and on WeChat moments the phrase 恢复堂食 (huīfù táng shí), "dine-in resumes" ??

02. SELF PICK-UP

You can always?make an order in a WeChat mini-program in any restaurant and pick up your food by yourself. Another option is to make an order at the restaurant and take the food away.

自取

zìqǔ

to pick up by yourself

带走

dàizǒu

to take away

03. DELIVERY

Food delivery is very common in China and you can order your food from any cafe and restaurant through WeChat mini-programs and delivery apps, such as Eleme or Meituan.

外卖

wàimài

(to order) a takeout

04. COOKING AT HOME

Even though we all have busy schedules, it's really nice to stay and cook your dinner at home once in a while. Some restaurants provide a quick and easy option for their customers. You can order a package of ingredients and cook your favorite meals at home.

在家做饭

zài jiā zuò fàn

to cook at?home

宅家

zhái jiā

to 'dwell' at home

Recently on Eleme and other platforms, you can find meals with this keyword (e.g. 宅家套餐 zhái jiā tàocān, "home set"), which refers to a package or box of prepared ingredients that you can buy and cook at home.

05.?PICNIC

As the dine-in?service was?not available in many areas recently, people?enjoyed?picnics in parks.?You can always?have a?picnic with your friends on the weekend.

野餐

yěcān

picnic

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