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就餐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
就餐jiùcānto dineHSK 7, unknown, 28 strokes, rank #25307, Very Hard
jiùcān(jiu4can1)jiu can T4
  1. 1to dine
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March 24, 2026

就餐jiùcān(jiu4can1)

就餐 (jiùcān) means 'to dine' or 'to have a meal.' It is commonly used in contexts where people gather to eat, such as in restaurants or during organized meals. The term emphasizes the act of partaking in food, often in a social setting.

Strokes28Frequency#25307DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, meals are often a communal affair, highlighting the importance of togetherness. The phrase 就餐 reflects this social aspect of dining, where sharing food is a way to foster relationships.

Memory tip

Imagine a group of friends '就' (jiù) - which sounds like 'you' - gathering around a table '餐' (cān) filled with delicious food. The character '就' looks like a person sitting down, ready to eat, while '餐' resembles a table with food on it. Together, they create a scene of dining.

Meanings of 就餐

jiùcān(jiu4can1)
1to dine
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About 就餐

就餐Simplified
28Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 就餐

Quick Contrast

用餐 (yòngcān) — use 用餐 when emphasizing the act of eating in a more formal or broader context.

Usage Notes

When using 就餐, it's important to note that it is more formal than simply saying '吃' (chī), which means 'to eat.' Common collocations include '在餐厅就餐' (dining in a restaurant) and '就餐时间' (meal time). Avoid using it in very casual settings.

HSK Study Tips

While 就餐 is not specifically listed in the HSK vocabulary, it combines common characters that appear in earlier levels: 就 (jiù) and 餐 (cān). Focus on recognizing these characters and their meanings, as they frequently appear in phrases related to eating.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 就餐 with 吃, using them interchangeably in all contexts. For example, saying '我就餐' (Wǒ jiùcān) in a casual setting is incorrect; it should be '我在吃' (Wǒ zài chī).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 就餐

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Component characters

就jiùat once
HSK 212 strokes尢
View full entry
餐cānmeal
HSK 616 strokes食
View full entry

How to say to dine in Chinese

“to dine” in Chinese is就餐jiùcān

就餐 (jiùcān) means 'to dine' or 'to have a meal.' It is commonly used in contexts where people gather to eat, such as in restaurants or during organized meals. The term emphasizes the act of partaking in food, often in a social setting.

When to use 就餐

When using 就餐, it's important to note that it is more formal than simply saying '吃' (chī), which means 'to eat.' Common collocations include '在餐厅就餐' (dining in a restaurant) and '就餐时间' (meal time). Avoid using it in very casual settings.

就餐 or something close to it

用餐 (yòngcān) — use 用餐 when emphasizing the act of eating in a more formal or broader context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 就餐 with 吃, using them interchangeably in all contexts. For example, saying '我就餐' (Wǒ jiùcān) in a casual setting is incorrect; it should be '我在吃' (Wǒ zài chī).

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就
餐

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Frequently asked questions about 就餐

Yes, but it's more formal; in casual settings, you would simply say 吃.

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