Meanings of 午餐
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 午餐
Podcast: 午餐
Podcast: 午餐
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 午餐
午餐 (lunch) vs 中餐 (Chinese meal) — use 午餐 specifically for the midday meal, while 中餐 refers to Chinese cuisine in general.
Be careful not to confuse 午餐 with 早餐 (breakfast) or 晚餐 (dinner). It is typically used in casual and formal settings alike, but using it in a business context might require more formal expressions. When discussing lunch, common collocations include '吃午餐' (to eat lunch) or '午餐时间' (lunch time).
While '午餐' may not be directly listed in HSK vocabulary, it is a practical term for daily conversation. Students should focus on learning related meal terms and practice using them in context to enhance their vocabulary around food and daily activities.
Learners often mistakenly pronounce the tones, saying 'wu1 can1' instead of 'wu3 can1'. Remember to keep the first syllable low and falling to get the correct meaning.
Pronunciation of 午餐
Drill the tone of 午餐 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Component Characters
How to say lunch in Chinese
“lunch” in Chinese is午餐
午餐 (wǔcān) refers to the meal eaten in the middle of the day, commonly known as lunch. It typically includes a variety of dishes and is often a significant meal in both social and work contexts in China. The word combines '午' (noon) and '餐' (meal), emphasizing its timing.
When to use 午餐
Be careful not to confuse 午餐 with 早餐 (breakfast) or 晚餐 (dinner). It is typically used in casual and formal settings alike, but using it in a business context might require more formal expressions. When discussing lunch, common collocations include '吃午餐' (to eat lunch) or '午餐时间' (lunch time).
午餐 or something close to it
午餐 (lunch) vs 中餐 (Chinese meal) — use 午餐 specifically for the midday meal, while 中餐 refers to Chinese cuisine in general.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly pronounce the tones, saying 'wu1 can1' instead of 'wu3 can1'. Remember to keep the first syllable low and falling to get the correct meaning.
Write 午餐
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 午餐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions about 午餐
午餐 is lunch, served in the middle of the day, while 晚餐 is dinner, typically eaten in the evening.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 午餐?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.