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晚餐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
晚餐wǎncānevening mealHSK 4, unknown, 27 strokes, rank #1208, Medium
晚餐wǎncāndinnerHSK 4, unknown, 27 strokes, rank #1208, Medium
wǎncān(wan3can1)wan can T3
  1. 1evening meal
  2. 2dinner
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March 24, 2026

晚餐wǎncān(wan3can1)

晚餐 (wǎn cān) refers to the evening meal or dinner, typically eaten after work or school. It is a time for families to gather and share a meal, often featuring a variety of dishes. In many cultures, including Chinese, dinner holds great social significance as a time for connection and relaxation.

Strokes27Frequency#1208DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, dinner often includes multiple dishes and is a time for families to come together, emphasizing the importance of familial bonds and shared experiences. Special occasions, like festivals, often feature elaborate晚餐.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'waning' moon (晚 means 'evening') over a dinner table. The moon's fading light signifies that it’s time to gather for the evening meal, reminding you of the pronunciation 'wan' for 晚 and 'can' for 餐, which sounds like 'can' as in 'can you pass the food?'.

Meanings of 晚餐

wǎncān(wan3can1)
1evening meal
2dinner
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About 晚餐

晚餐Simplified
27Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
份Measure Word
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 晚餐

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Podcast: 晚餐

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AI Study Notes for 晚餐

Quick Contrast

晚饭 (wǎnfàn) - typically used in casual contexts, while 晚餐 (wǎncān) may imply a more formal or complete meal.

Usage Notes

晚餐 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more prevalent in daily conversations about meal times. A common mistake is to confuse it with 早餐 (breakfast) or 午餐 (lunch). Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

While 晚餐 is not explicitly listed in HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at HSK Level 2 or above when discussing daily routines. Students should focus on using it in sentences related to meal times and family gatherings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly say '午餐' when they mean dinner, as they confuse lunch and dinner. Remember, 晚餐 is specifically for the evening meal, while 午餐 refers to lunch.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 晚餐

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Component Characters

晚wǎnevening
HSK 111 strokes日
View full entry
餐cānmeal
HSK 616 strokes食
View full entry

How to say evening meal in Chinese

“evening meal” in Chinese is晚餐wǎncān

晚餐 (wǎn cān) refers to the evening meal or dinner, typically eaten after work or school. It is a time for families to gather and share a meal, often featuring a variety of dishes. In many cultures, including Chinese, dinner holds great social significance as a time for connection and relaxation.

When to use 晚餐

晚餐 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more prevalent in daily conversations about meal times. A common mistake is to confuse it with 早餐 (breakfast) or 午餐 (lunch). Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstanding.

晚餐 or something close to it

晚饭 (wǎnfàn) - typically used in casual contexts, while 晚餐 (wǎncān) may imply a more formal or complete meal.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly say '午餐' when they mean dinner, as they confuse lunch and dinner. Remember, 晚餐 is specifically for the evening meal, while 午餐 refers to lunch.

Write 晚餐

晚
餐

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about 晚餐

You can say '你想吃什么晚餐?' (Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme wǎn cān?)

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