càidān: 菜单 - Menu

• Keywords: 菜单, caidan, Chinese menu, how to order food in Chinese, menu in Chinese, Chinese food menu, what does caidan mean, computer menu in Chinese, HSK 2 vocabulary.
• Summary: An essential word for any beginner, 菜单 (càidān) is the Chinese term for “menu.” While its most common use is for the food menu you get in a restaurant, it also refers to the menu of options on a computer or app. Understanding càidān is your first step to navigating both China's incredible culinary scene and its digital world, making it one of the most practical words you can learn.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): càidān
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A list of dishes for ordering, or a list of options in software.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 菜单 (càidān) as any “list of choices.” Its heart and soul is in the restaurant, where it's the bridge between you and a delicious meal. But the same logic applies to technology—when you click “File” on a program, the list of options that appears is also a 菜单. It's a simple, versatile, and absolutely vital word for everyday life.

• 菜 (cài): This character's top part (艹) is the “grass radical,” indicating a connection to plants. Originally meaning “vegetables,” its meaning has expanded to encompass any “dish” or even a style of “cuisine” (e.g., 中国菜 - Zhōngguó cài - Chinese food).
• 单 (dān): This character means “list,” “sheet,” or “single.” Think of a bill, a form, or any single sheet of paper with a list on it.

When you combine them, 菜 (cài) + 单 (dān) literally means a “dish list”—a perfect and logical description of a menu.

In Western dining, a menu is often a tool for individual choice: “What will *I* have for my appetizer and main course?” In China, the 菜单 (càidān) serves a more communal purpose. Chinese meals are typically served “family style,” with a group ordering several dishes to be shared by everyone at the table. The 菜单 is therefore not a list for individual selection, but a palette from which the group, or a designated host, constructs a balanced and harmonious meal. A proper meal might include a mix of meat and vegetable dishes, with varied flavors (spicy, savory, sour) and cooking methods (steamed, stir-fried, braised). This contrasts sharply with the typical Western three-course structure. The Chinese 菜单 reflects a collectivist approach to eating, where the goal is a shared experience rather than individual satisfaction. Furthermore, in modern China, the physical booklet is rapidly being replaced by a 菜单 on a QR code, which you scan with your phone to order and pay directly, showcasing China's swift embrace of digital convenience.

菜单 (càidān) is used constantly in two primary contexts: 1. In Restaurants: This is its most frequent use. You use it to ask for the menu, discuss the options, and point to what you want to order. It's formal enough for any restaurant but casual enough for any street vendor who has one. 2. In Technology: This is its secondary but also very common meaning. When using software, apps, or websites in Chinese, the drop-down lists of commands (e.g., “File,” “Edit,” “View”) are all referred to as 菜单. For example, the “start menu” on Windows is called a “开始菜单 (kāishǐ càidān)”. The connotation is neutral and descriptive in all contexts.

Example 1: 服务员，请给我们菜单。 Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒmen càidān. English: Waiter, please give us the menu. Analysis: This is the most crucial phrase for dining out. “服务员 (fúwùyuán)” is the standard way to get a server's attention. Example 2: 这个菜单上有图片吗？ Pinyin: Zhège càidān shàng yǒu túpiàn ma? English: Are there pictures on this menu? Analysis: An incredibly useful question for beginners, as picture menus can save you when you can't read the characters. “上 (shàng)” here means “on” the menu. Example 3: 对不起，我看不懂中文菜单。 Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ kàn bu dǒng Zhōngwén càidān. English: Sorry, I can't read the Chinese menu. Analysis: A polite and honest way to express your language limitation. “看不懂 (kàn bu dǒng)” is a resultative complement meaning “to look but not understand.” Example 4: 你们有英文菜单吗？ Pinyin: Nǐmen yǒu Yīngwén càidān ma? English: Do you have an English menu? Analysis: Another essential survival phrase for travelers and new learners in China. Example 5: 我们可以用手机扫码看菜单。 Pinyin: Wǒmen kěyǐ yòng shǒujī sǎo mǎ kàn càidān. English: We can use our phones to scan the code to see the menu. Analysis: This reflects modern dining in China. “扫码 (sǎo mǎ)” means “to scan a code.” Example 6: 这份菜单上的菜太多了，我不知道点什么。 Pinyin: Zhè fèn càidān shàng de cài tài duō le, wǒ bù zhīdào diǎn shénme. English: There are too many dishes on this menu, I don't know what to order. Analysis: “份 (fèn)” is a common measure word for documents like menus. “点 (diǎn)” is the verb “to order” food. Example 7: 请点击“文件”菜单并选择“保存”。 Pinyin: Qǐng diǎnjī “wénjiàn” càidān bìng xuǎnzé “bǎocún”. English: Please click the “File” menu and select “Save.” Analysis: This shows the clear use of 菜单 in a software/computer context. Example 8: 今天的特价菜写在菜单的第一页。 Pinyin: Jīntiān de tèjiàcài xiě zài càidān de dì yī yè. English: Today's special dishes are written on the first page of the menu. Analysis: “特价菜 (tèjiàcài)” means “special offer dish.” Example 9: 这家餐厅的菜单每个季节都会换。 Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de càidān měi gè jìjié dōu huì huàn. English: This restaurant's menu changes every season. Analysis: Demonstrates a more descriptive use of the word. “会换 (huì huàn)” means “will change.” Example 10: 老板，这个菜在菜单上找不到了。 Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, zhège cài zài càidān shàng zhǎo bu dào le. English: Boss, I can't find this dish on the menu anymore. Analysis: “找不到 (zhǎo bu dào)” is another resultative complement, meaning “to look for but be unable to find.” Example 11: 他的拿手菜都不在菜单上，需要提前预订。 Pinyin: Tā de náshǒucài dōu bù zài càidān shàng, xūyào tíqián yùdìng. English: His specialty dishes are not on the menu; you need to order them in advance. Analysis: This points to the concept of “off-menu” items, common in some authentic restaurants. “拿手菜 (náshǒucài)” means a chef's signature or specialty dish.

• 菜单 (càidān) vs. 菜 (cài): This is the most common mistake for learners. 菜单 is the *list* of food. 菜 is the actual *dish* or food item.
  • Correct: 我要看菜单。(Wǒ yào kàn càidān.) - I want to see the menu.
  • Incorrect: 我要看菜。(Wǒ yào kàn cài.) - This sounds like you want to inspect a specific dish, not see the list.
  • Correct: 我要点这个菜。(Wǒ yào diǎn zhège cài.) - I want to order this dish.
  • Incorrect: 我要点这个菜单。(Wǒ yào diǎn zhège càidān.) - I want to order this menu (the physical booklet).
• 菜单 (càidān) vs. 食谱 (shípǔ): A 菜单 (càidān) is a list of prepared food you can buy. A 食谱 (shípǔ) is a *recipe*—a list of ingredients and instructions for how to cook something yourself. Don't ask a waiter for the 食谱 unless you want to know how they made the dish!

• 点菜 (diǎn cài) - To order dishes. The action you take after reading the 菜单.
• 买单 (mǎidān) - To pay the bill. The final step. The character 单 (list, bill) is shared.
• 菜 (cài) - Dish; cuisine; vegetable. The individual items listed on a 菜单.
• 服务员 (fúwùyuán) - Waiter/waitress. The person who brings you the 菜单.
• 套餐 (tàocān) - Set meal; combo. A specific, pre-arranged meal option on a 菜单.
• 食谱 (shípǔ) - Recipe. A list of cooking instructions, not a list of items to order.
• 酒水单 (jiǔshuǐdān) - Drinks menu. Literally “alcohol-water-list,” a specific type of 菜单.
• 二维码 (èrwéimǎ) - QR code. The modern technology often used to display a digital 菜单.
• 账单 (zhàngdān) - The bill; the check. A list of what you owe, which you get before you 买单.