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March 24, 2026
午饭(午飯)wǔfàn(wu3fan4)
午饭 (wǔfàn) refers to lunch, the meal typically eaten around midday. It is a significant part of the daily meal schedule in Chinese culture, often enjoyed with family or colleagues, and can range from simple dishes to elaborate feasts depending on the context.
Frequency#1845DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In many regions of China, especially in workplaces, lunch is often seen as a time for socializing and networking, with some companies providing meals or encouraging team lunches.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big clock striking noon (午) when you sit down to enjoy a delicious meal (饭). The characters come together to remind you that lunchtime (午饭) is when you refuel for the rest of the day!
Meanings of 午饭
wǔfàn(wu3fan4)
1lunch
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About 午饭
午饭Simplified
午飯Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
份Measure Word
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 午饭
Podcast: 午饭
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AI Study Notes for 午饭
Quick Contrast
中饭 (zhōngfàn) — use 午饭 (wǔfàn) for a more casual context, while 中饭 (zhōngfàn) may sound slightly more formal or regional.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big clock striking noon (午) when you sit down to enjoy a delicious meal (饭). The characters come together to remind you that lunchtime (午饭) is when you refuel for the rest of the day!
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 午饭 with breakfast (早餐 zǎocān) or dinner (晚饭 wǎnfàn). It's commonly used in both formal and informal settings, but when inviting someone for lunch, ensure the context matches the time of day.
HSK Study Tips
Although 午饭 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is useful for HSK Level 2 and above as it relates to daily life and meal-related conversations. Focus on using it in sentences about your daily routine or meal preferences.
Cultural Note
In many regions of China, especially in workplaces, lunch is often seen as a time for socializing and networking, with some companies providing meals or encouraging team lunches.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 午饭 with other meal times, saying things like 我们去吃午饭早上 (Wǒmen qù chī wǔfàn zǎoshang - 'Let's go eat lunch in the morning'), which is incorrect. The correct phrase would be 我们去吃午饭 (Wǒmen qù chī wǔfàn - 'Let's go eat lunch').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 午饭
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Cultural Notes for 午饭
🏮Cultural insight
In many regions of China, especially in workplaces, lunch is often seen as a time for socializing and networking, with some companies providing meals or encouraging team lunches.
Frequently Asked Questions about 午饭
午饭 and 中饭 both refer to lunch, but 午饭 is more commonly used in modern contexts.
Not necessarily; it can be a simple meal or a more elaborate feast depending on individual or regional practices.
Yes, 午饭 is appropriate in both casual and business settings when discussing lunch.
