noun HSK 3
lunch · midday meal
Meaning
午餐 refers to the meal eaten in the middle of the day, typically between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM in Chinese culture. It's a neutral, everyday term used in both spoken and written contexts. In China, lunch is traditionally the main meal of the day, often more substantial than dinner.
Usage
午餐 is a standard, polite term suitable for all contexts. In casual conversation, people often say 午饭 (wǔ fàn) instead, which is slightly more colloquial. Common phrases include 吃午餐 (eat lunch) and 午餐时间 (lunchtime). It's widely used in restaurants, schools, and workplaces.
Examples
- 01我们十二点去吃午餐吧。' .Let's go eat lunch at twelve o'clock.
- 02这家餐厅的午餐很便宜。.The lunch at this restaurant is very cheap.
Characters
Measure words
- 顿一顿午餐
- 份一份午餐
Common collocations
- 吃午餐to eat lunch
- 午餐时间lunchtime
- 工作午餐working lunch, business lunch
- 午餐会luncheon meeting
Origin
午 originally referred to the noon hour (11 AM–1 PM in traditional Chinese timekeeping), while 餐 is a formal character for meal. Together they form the compound for the midday meal.