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| 菜单 [2025/08/13 01:44] – created xiaoer | 菜单 [2025/08/15 01:10] (current) – created xiaoer |
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| ====== càidān: 菜单 - Menu ====== | ====== càidān: 菜单 - Menu, List of Dishes ====== |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | ===== Quick Summary ===== |
| * **Keywords:** 菜单, caidan, Chinese menu, how to order food in Chinese, menu in Chinese, Chinese food menu, what does caidan mean, computer menu in Chinese, HSK 2 vocabulary. | * **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:** An essential word for any beginner, **菜单 (càidān)** is the Chinese term for "menu." While its most common use is for the food menu you get in a restaurant, it also refers to the menu of options on a computer or app. Understanding **càidān** is your first step to navigating both China's incredible culinary scene and its digital world, making it one of the most practical words you can learn. | * **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. |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | ===== Core Meaning ===== |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** càidān | * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** cài-dān |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | * **Part of Speech:** Noun |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 2 | * **HSK Level:** HSK 2 |
| * **Concise Definition:** A list of dishes for ordering, or a list of options in software. | * **Concise Definition:** A list of dishes available at a restaurant, or a list of options in a computer program. |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **菜单 (càidān)** as any "list of choices." Its heart and soul is in the restaurant, where it's the bridge between you and a delicious meal. But the same logic applies to technology—when you click "File" on a program, the list of options that appears is also a **菜单**. It's a simple, versatile, and absolutely vital word for everyday life. | * **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. |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | ===== Character Breakdown ===== |
| * **菜 (cài):** This character's top part (艹) is the "grass radical," indicating a connection to plants. Originally meaning "vegetables," its meaning has expanded to encompass any "dish" or even a style of "cuisine" (e.g., 中国菜 - Zhōngguó cài - Chinese food). | * **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 "single." Think of a bill, a form, or any single sheet of paper with a list on it. | * **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)." |
| When you combine them, **菜 (cài)** + **单 (dān)** literally means a "dish list"—a perfect and logical description of a menu. | * The two characters combine logically: **菜 (dishes) + 单 (list) = 菜单 (a list of dishes).** |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== |
| In Western dining, a menu is often a tool for individual choice: "What will *I* have for my appetizer and main course?" In China, the **菜单 (càidān)** serves a more communal purpose. | While a "menu" is a universal concept, the experience surrounding a `菜单` in China has unique cultural dimensions. |
| Chinese meals are typically served "family style," with a group ordering several dishes to be shared by everyone at the table. The **菜单** is therefore not a list for individual selection, but a palette from which the group, or a designated host, constructs a balanced and harmonious meal. A proper meal might include a mix of meat and vegetable dishes, with varied flavors (spicy, savory, sour) and cooking methods (steamed, stir-fried, braised). | * **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. |
| This contrasts sharply with the typical Western three-course structure. The Chinese **菜单** reflects a collectivist approach to eating, where the goal is a shared experience rather than individual satisfaction. Furthermore, in modern China, the physical booklet is rapidly being replaced by a **菜单** on a QR code, which you scan with your phone to order and pay directly, showcasing China's swift embrace of digital convenience. | * **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! |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== |
| **菜单 (càidān)** is used constantly in two primary contexts: | `菜单` is a high-frequency word used in two primary contexts. It is a neutral term suitable for all levels of formality. |
| **1. In Restaurants:** | === In a Restaurant === |
| This is its most frequent use. You use it to ask for the menu, discuss the options, and point to what you want to order. It's formal enough for any restaurant but casual enough for any street vendor who has one. | 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. |
| **2. In Technology:** | === In a Digital Context === |
| This is its secondary but also very common meaning. When using software, apps, or websites in Chinese, the drop-down lists of commands (e.g., "File," "Edit," "View") are all referred to as **菜单**. For example, the "start menu" on Windows is called a "开始菜单 (kāishǐ càidān)". | 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. |
| The connotation is neutral and descriptive in all contexts. | * **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 Sentences ===== | ===== Example Sentences ===== |
| **Example 1:** | * **Example 1:** |
| 服务员，请给我们**菜单**。 | * 服务员，请给我们 **菜单**。 |
| Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒmen **càidān**. | * Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒmen **càidān**. |
| English: Waiter, please give us the menu. | * English: Waiter, please give us the menu. |
| Analysis: This is the most crucial phrase for dining out. "服务员 (fúwùyuán)" is the standard way to get a server's attention. | * 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:** | * **Example 2:** |
| 这个**菜单**上有图片吗？ | * 这个 **菜单** 上有图片吗？ |
| Pinyin: Zhège **càidān** shàng yǒu túpiàn ma? | * Pinyin: Zhège **càidān** shàng yǒu túpiàn ma? |
| English: Are there pictures on this menu? | * English: Are there pictures on this menu? |
| Analysis: An incredibly useful question for beginners, as picture menus can save you when you can't read the characters. "上 (shàng)" here means "on" the 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:** | * **Example 3:** |
| 对不起，我看不懂中文**菜单**。 | * 我看不懂 **菜单**，你可以推荐几个菜吗？ |
| Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ kàn bu dǒng Zhōngwén **càidān**. | * Pinyin: Wǒ kàn bù dǒng **càidān**, nǐ kěyǐ tuījiàn jǐ ge cài ma? |
| English: Sorry, I can't read the Chinese menu. | * English: I can't read the menu, can you recommend a few dishes? |
| Analysis: A polite and honest way to express your language limitation. "看不懂 (kàn bu dǒng)" is a resultative complement meaning "to look but not understand." | * 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:** | * **Example 4:** |
| 你们有英文**菜单**吗？ | * 今天的特色菜写在 **菜单** 的第一页。 |
| Pinyin: Nǐmen yǒu Yīngwén **càidān** ma? | * Pinyin: Jīntiān de tèsècài xiě zài **càidān** de dì yī yè. |
| English: Do you have an English menu? | * English: Today's special dishes are written on the first page of the menu. |
| Analysis: Another essential survival phrase for travelers and new learners in China. | * Analysis: `特色菜 (tèsècài)` means "specialty dish," a key term to look for on a menu. |
| **Example 5:** | * **Example 5:** |
| 我们可以用手机扫码看**菜单**。 | * 请点击屏幕右上角的“设置” **菜单**。 |
| Pinyin: Wǒmen kěyǐ yòng shǒujī sǎo mǎ kàn **càidān**. | * Pinyin: Qǐng diǎnjī píngmù yòu shàng jiǎo de “shèzhì” **càidān**. |
| English: We can use our phones to scan the code to see the menu. | * English: Please click the "Settings" menu in the top-right corner of the screen. |
| Analysis: This reflects modern dining in China. "扫码 (sǎo mǎ)" means "to scan a code." | * Analysis: A perfect example of the digital use of `菜单`. `点击 (diǎnjī)` means "to click." |
| **Example 6:** | * **Example 6:** |
| 这份**菜单**上的菜太多了，我不知道点什么。 | * 这家餐厅的 **菜单** 很简单，只有五种面条。 |
| Pinyin: Zhè fèn **càidān** shàng de cài tài duō le, wǒ bù zhīdào diǎn shénme. | * Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de **càidān** hěn jiǎndān, zhǐyǒu wǔ zhǒng miàntiáo. |
| English: There are too many dishes on this menu, I don't know what to order. | * English: This restaurant's menu is very simple, it only has five types of noodles. |
| Analysis: "份 (fèn)" is a common measure word for documents like menus. "点 (diǎn)" is the verb "to order" food. | * Analysis: Demonstrates how to describe a menu. `简单 (jiǎndān)` means "simple." |
| **Example 7:** | * **Example 7:** |
| 请点击“文件”**菜单**并选择“保存”。 | * 我们换个新 **菜单** 吧，旧的太多菜了。 |
| Pinyin: Qǐng diǎnjī "wénjiàn" **càidān** bìng xuǎnzé "bǎocún". | * Pinyin: Wǒmen huàn ge xīn **càidān** ba, jiù de tài duō cài le. |
| English: Please click the "File" menu and select "Save." | * English: Let's change to a new menu, the old one has too many dishes. |
| Analysis: This shows the clear use of **菜单** in a software/computer context. | * 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:** | * **Example 8:** |
| 今天的特价菜写在**菜单**的第一页。 | * 他们的午餐 **菜单** 有一个很划算的套餐。 |
| Pinyin: Jīntiān de tèjiàcài xiě zài **càidān** de dì yī yè. | * Pinyin: Tāmen de wǔcān **càidān** yǒu yī gè hěn huásuàn de tàocān. |
| English: Today's special dishes are written on the first page of the menu. | * English: Their lunch menu has a very good-value set meal. |
| Analysis: "特价菜 (tèjiàcài)" means "special offer dish." | * Analysis: Introduces two important related terms: `午餐 (wǔcān)` for "lunch" and `套餐 (tàocān)` for "set meal/combo." |
| **Example 9:** | * **Example 9:** |
| 这家餐厅的**菜单**每个季节都会换。 | * 你先把 **菜单** 给我，我研究一下点什么。 |
| Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de **càidān** měi gè jìjié dōu huì huàn. | * Pinyin: Nǐ xiān bǎ **càidān** gěi wǒ, wǒ yánjiū yīxià diǎn shénme. |
| English: This restaurant's menu changes every season. | * English: Give me the menu first, let me study what to order. |
| Analysis: Demonstrates a more descriptive use of the word. "会换 (huì huàn)" means "will change." | * 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:** | * **Example 10:** |
| 老板，这个菜在**菜单**上找不到了。 | * 在Windows系统中，你可以按“Win”键打开开始 **菜单**。 |
| Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, zhège cài zài **càidān** shàng zhǎo bu dào le. | * Pinyin: Zài Windows xìtǒng zhōng, nǐ kěyǐ àn “Win” jiàn dǎkāi kāishǐ **càidān**. |
| English: Boss, I can't find this dish on the menu anymore. | * English: In the Windows system, you can press the "Win" key to open the Start menu. |
| Analysis: "找不到 (zhǎo bu dào)" is another resultative complement, meaning "to look for but be unable to find." | * 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." |
| **Example 11:** | |
| 他的拿手菜都不在**菜单**上，需要提前预订。 | |
| Pinyin: Tā de náshǒucài dōu bù zài **càidān** shàng, xūyào tíqián yùdìng. | |
| English: His specialty dishes are not on the menu; you need to order them in advance. | |
| Analysis: This points to the concept of "off-menu" items, common in some authentic restaurants. "拿手菜 (náshǒucài)" means a chef's signature or specialty dish. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== |
| * **菜单 (càidān) vs. 菜 (cài):** This is the most common mistake for learners. **菜单** is the *list* of food. **菜** is the actual *dish* or food item. | * **`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. |
| * **Correct:** 我要看**菜单**。(Wǒ yào kàn **càidān**.) - I want to see the menu. | * `菜单 (càidān)`: The **dish list** you use to **order** food. |
| * **Incorrect:** 我要看菜。(Wǒ yào kàn cài.) - This sounds like you want to inspect a specific dish, not see the list. | * `账单 (zhàngdān)`: The **account list** (bill) you get when you want to **pay**. |
| * **Correct:** 我要点这个**菜**。(Wǒ yào diǎn zhège **cài**.) - I want to order this dish. | * **Incorrect:** After eating, saying `服务员，请给我菜单 (Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ càidān)`. You will get the menu again! |
| * **Incorrect:** 我要点这个菜单。(Wǒ yào diǎn zhège càidān.) - I want to order this menu (the physical booklet). | * **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):** A **菜单 (càidān)** is a list of prepared food you can buy. A **食谱 (shípǔ)** is a *recipe*—a list of ingredients and instructions for how to cook something yourself. Don't ask a waiter for the **食谱** unless you want to know how they made the dish! | * **`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. |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== |
| * [[点菜]] (diǎn cài) - To order dishes. The action you take after reading the **菜单**. | * [[点菜]] (diǎn cài) - To order dishes. This is the action you perform using a `菜单`. |
| * [[买单]] (mǎidān) - To pay the bill. The final step. The character **单** (list, bill) is shared. | * [[账单]] (zhàngdān) - The bill/check. What you ask for after you finish eating, functionally the opposite of a `菜单`. |
| * [[菜]] (cài) - Dish; cuisine; vegetable. The individual items listed on 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 who brings you the **菜单**. | * [[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, pre-arranged meal option on a **菜单**. | * [[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. |
| * [[食谱]] (shípǔ) - Recipe. A list of cooking instructions, not a list of items to order. | * [[特色菜]] (tèsècài) - Specialty dish. The restaurant's signature dishes, often highlighted on the `菜单`. |
| * [[酒水单]] (jiǔshuǐdān) - Drinks menu. Literally "alcohol-water-list," a specific type of **菜单**. | * [[食谱]] (shípǔ) - Recipe/Cookbook. A list of ingredients and instructions for cooking, not for ordering. |
| * [[二维码]] (èrwéimǎ) - QR code. The modern technology often used to display a digital **菜单**. | * [[清单]] (qīngdān) - A general checklist or inventory list. Shows the broader use of the character `单 (dān)` to mean "list." |
| * [[账单]] (zhàngdān) - The bill; the check. A list of what you owe, which you get before you [[买单]]. | |