càidān: 菜单 - Menu, List of Dishes

• Keywords: càidān, 菜单, Chinese menu, how to order food in Chinese, what is caidan, list of dishes, computer menu, menu in Chinese, ordering food, restaurant vocabulary
• Summary: Discover the essential Chinese word 菜单 (càidān), which means “menu.” This term is your key to navigating restaurants across China, from ordering street food to fine dining. Beyond the dinner table, `càidān` also refers to the “menu” in computer software and apps, making it a crucial vocabulary word for both daily life and the digital world. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage, helping you order food and use technology with confidence.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): cài-dān
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A list of dishes available at a restaurant, or a list of options in a computer program.
• In a Nutshell: `菜单` is the direct equivalent of the English word “menu.” It's formed by combining “dish” (`菜`) and “list” (`单`), literally creating a “dish list.” While its primary use is for food, its meaning has expanded to include digital menus in software and operating systems, just like in English. It's a straightforward, neutral, and incredibly common word you'll encounter every day in China.

• 菜 (cài): This character's core meaning is “vegetable,” indicated by the grass radical (艹) on top. However, it has broadened to mean any “dish” or type of “cuisine.” For example, `中国菜 (Zhōngguó cài)` means “Chinese food/cuisine.”
• 单 (dān): This character means “list,” “sheet,” or “bill.” You see it in many words related to lists, like `账单 (zhàngdān)` for a bill or `名单 (míngdān)` for a namelist. It can also mean “single” or “odd (number).”
• The two characters combine logically: 菜 (dishes) + 单 (list) = 菜单 (a list of dishes).

While a “menu” is a universal concept, the experience surrounding a `菜单` in China has unique cultural dimensions.

• The Communal Menu: In the West, ordering is often an individual act. In China, it's frequently a communal discussion. The host or a senior member of the party is often handed the `菜单` first. They will then consult with the table to select a balanced variety of dishes (meat, vegetable, soup, etc.) for everyone to share. This reflects the collectivist nature of Chinese dining culture.
• QR Code Revolution: A major difference in modern China is the prevalence of QR code menus. Instead of a physical `菜单`, most restaurants will have a small QR code on the table. Diners scan it with their phones (usually via WeChat or Alipay) to bring up a digital `菜单`, select their dishes, and even pay directly from the app. This is far more common in China than in most Western countries and is an essential cultural practice to be aware of.
• The “Picture Menu”: For foreigners, the most welcome sight is a `菜单` with pictures. Many restaurants, especially in tourist areas, have them. This bridges the language gap and makes ordering much less intimidating. Don't be shy to point!

`菜单` is a high-frequency word used in two primary contexts. It is a neutral term suitable for all levels of formality.

This is the most common context. You use it to ask for the menu, discuss the menu, and choose your food. It applies to everything from a small noodle shop to a fancy banquet.

This is a direct loan translation from English. It refers to any dropdown list of options in a computer program, app, or on a website.

• File Menu: 文件菜单 (wénjiàn càidān)
• Start Menu: 开始菜单 (kāishǐ càidān)
• Settings Menu: 设置菜单 (shèzhì càidān)

• Example 1:
  • 服务员，请给我们 菜单。
  • Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒmen càidān.
  • English: Waiter, please give us the menu.
  • Analysis: This is the most fundamental and essential phrase for dining out in China. `服务员 (fúwùyuán)` is the standard way to call for a waiter or waitress.
• Example 2:
  • 这个 菜单 上有图片吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhège càidān shàng yǒu túpiàn ma?
  • English: Are there pictures on this menu?
  • Analysis: A very useful question for beginners who may not be able to read all the characters. `上 (shàng)` here means “on.”
• Example 3:
  • 我看不懂 菜单，你可以推荐几个菜吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kàn bù dǒng càidān, nǐ kěyǐ tuījiàn jǐ ge cài ma?
  • English: I can't read the menu, can you recommend a few dishes?
  • Analysis: Shows vulnerability and invites help. `看不懂 (kàn bù dǒng)` means “can't understand by reading.” `推荐 (tuījiàn)` means “to recommend.”
• Example 4:
  • 今天的特色菜写在 菜单 的第一页。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de tèsècài xiě zài càidān de dì yī yè.
  • English: Today's special dishes are written on the first page of the menu.
  • Analysis: `特色菜 (tèsècài)` means “specialty dish,” a key term to look for on a menu.
• Example 5:
  • 请点击屏幕右上角的“设置” 菜单。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng diǎnjī píngmù yòu shàng jiǎo de “shèzhì” càidān.
  • English: Please click the “Settings” menu in the top-right corner of the screen.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of the digital use of `菜单`. `点击 (diǎnjī)` means “to click.”
• Example 6:
  • 这家餐厅的 菜单 很简单，只有五种面条。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de càidān hěn jiǎndān, zhǐyǒu wǔ zhǒng miàntiáo.
  • English: This restaurant's menu is very simple, it only has five types of noodles.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to describe a menu. `简单 (jiǎndān)` means “simple.”
• Example 7:
  • 我们换个新 菜单 吧，旧的太多菜了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen huàn ge xīn càidān ba, jiù de tài duō cài le.
  • English: Let's change to a new menu, the old one has too many dishes.
  • Analysis: This might be said by a restaurant owner. It shows `菜单` as a physical or conceptual object that can be changed.
• Example 8:
  • 他们的午餐 菜单 有一个很划算的套餐。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de wǔcān càidān yǒu yī gè hěn huásuàn de tàocān.
  • English: Their lunch menu has a very good-value set meal.
  • Analysis: Introduces two important related terms: `午餐 (wǔcān)` for “lunch” and `套餐 (tàocān)` for “set meal/combo.”
• Example 9:
  • 你先把 菜单 给我，我研究一下点什么。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiān bǎ càidān gěi wǒ, wǒ yánjiū yīxià diǎn shénme.
  • English: Give me the menu first, let me study what to order.
  • Analysis: `研究 (yánjiū)`, which means “to research/study,” is used humorously here to mean “to look over carefully.” This is a common and natural way of speaking.
• Example 10:
  • 在Windows系统中，你可以按“Win”键打开开始 菜单。
  • Pinyin: Zài Windows xìtǒng zhōng, nǐ kěyǐ àn “Win” jiàn dǎkāi kāishǐ càidān.
  • English: In the Windows system, you can press the “Win” key to open the Start menu.
  • Analysis: Another clear digital example, showing its use in tech instructions. `开始菜单 (kāishǐ càidān)` is the standard term for the “Start Menu.”

• `菜单 (càidān)` vs. `账单 (zhàngdān)` - Menu vs. Bill: This is the most common mistake for beginners. They both end in `单 (dān)`, meaning “list” or “sheet,” which causes confusion.
  • `菜单 (càidān)`: The dish list you use to order food.
  • `账单 (zhàngdān)`: The account list (bill) you get when you want to pay.
  • Incorrect: After eating, saying `服务员，请给我菜单 (Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ càidān)`. You will get the menu again!
  • Correct: After eating, saying `服务员，买单！(Fúwùyuán, mǎidān!)` or `服务员，结账 (jiézhàng)!`.
• `菜单 (càidān)` vs. `食谱 (shípǔ)` - Menu vs. Recipe: While both are lists of food, their purpose is different.
  • `菜单` is a list of prepared dishes you can buy at a restaurant.
  • `食谱 (shípǔ)` is a recipe with instructions on how to make a dish yourself. You find a `食谱` in a cookbook, not at a restaurant table.

• 点菜 (diǎn cài) - To order dishes. This is the action you perform using a `菜单`.
• 账单 (zhàngdān) - The bill/check. What you ask for after you finish eating, functionally the opposite of a `菜单`.
• 买单 (mǎidān) - To pay the bill. A common colloquial phrase used to ask for the check.
• 服务员 (fúwùyuán) - Waiter/Waitress. The person you ask for the `菜单` and who takes your order.
• 套餐 (tàocān) - Set meal/combo. A specific type of offering found on a `菜单`, often including a main, a side, and a drink for a fixed price.
• 特色菜 (tèsècài) - Specialty dish. The restaurant's signature dishes, often highlighted on the `菜单`.
• 食谱 (shípǔ) - Recipe/Cookbook. A list of ingredients and instructions for cooking, not for ordering.
• 清单 (qīngdān) - A general checklist or inventory list. Shows the broader use of the character `单 (dān)` to mean “list.”