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外卖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
外卖wàimàito goHSK 3, unknown, 13 strokes, Medium
外卖wàimàitake out (relates to food bought at a restaurant)HSK 3, unknown, 13 strokes, Medium
wàimài(wai4mai4)wai mai T4
  1. 1to go
  2. 2take out (relates to food bought at a restaurant)
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March 24, 2026

外卖(外賣)wàimài(wai4mai4)

外卖 (wài mài) refers to food that is ordered from a restaurant and taken away to be eaten elsewhere. It is commonly used in urban settings where convenience and fast service are valued, especially with the rise of food delivery apps. The term embodies the growing trend of dining out and the modern lifestyle in Chinese cities.

Strokes13DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In China, the popularity of 外卖 reflects a cultural shift towards convenience and fast-paced living, especially among younger generations. Many cities have a vibrant food delivery culture, with various options available through mobile apps.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'waiter' (sounds like 'wai') handing you a 'mai' (a small bag) filled with delicious food to take away. The visual of a waiter delivering takeaway food helps link the pronunciation and meaning of 外卖.

Meanings of 外卖

wàimài(wai4mai4)
1to go
2take out (relates to food bought at a restaurant)
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About 外卖

外卖Simplified
外賣Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1BCT✓CEFRA1

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Podcast: 外卖

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AI Study Notes for 外卖

Quick Contrast

外卖 (takeout) vs 外食 (dining out) — use 外卖 when referring to food ordered for takeaway, while 外食 emphasizes eating at a restaurant.

Usage Notes

When using 外卖, it is important to specify the restaurant or type of food you are ordering for clarity. Common mistakes include using the wrong verb for ordering, as in saying '点外卖' (diǎn wài mài) instead of just '外卖' when the context is clear. This term is informal and widely used in everyday conversation.

HSK Study Tips

While 外卖 is not directly covered in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with food-related terms and restaurant vocabulary at HSK Level 2. Focus on learning related phrases like '点餐' (diǎn cān - order food) or '菜单' (cài dān - menu) to enhance your conversational skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 外卖 with '外食' (wài shí), which means dining out, instead of taking food home. Remember, 外卖 is specifically for food you are taking away, not eating at the restaurant.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 外卖

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Component Characters

外wàioutside
HSK 15 strokes夕
View full entry
卖màito sell
HSK 18 strokes十
View full entry

How to say to go in Chinese

“to go” in Chinese is外卖wàimài

外卖 (wài mài) refers to food that is ordered from a restaurant and taken away to be eaten elsewhere. It is commonly used in urban settings where convenience and fast service are valued, especially with the rise of food delivery apps. The term embodies the growing trend of dining out and the modern lifestyle in Chinese cities.

When to use 外卖

When using 外卖, it is important to specify the restaurant or type of food you are ordering for clarity. Common mistakes include using the wrong verb for ordering, as in saying '点外卖' (diǎn wài mài) instead of just '外卖' when the context is clear. This term is informal and widely used in everyday conversation.

外卖 or something close to it

外卖 (takeout) vs 外食 (dining out) — use 外卖 when referring to food ordered for takeaway, while 外食 emphasizes eating at a restaurant.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 外卖 with '外食' (wài shí), which means dining out, instead of taking food home. Remember, 外卖 is specifically for food you are taking away, not eating at the restaurant.

Write 外卖

外
卖

Practice writing 外卖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 外卖

You can order 外卖 through food delivery apps like 饿了么 (Èle me) or 美团 (Měituán), or by calling a restaurant directly.

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