verb HSK 4
jiù cān
to dine · to have a meal · to eat (formal)

Meaning

就餐 is a formal way to say 'to eat a meal' or 'to dine.' It's more polite and professional than casual words like 吃饭. You'll see it on signs, in restaurants, hotels, and official contexts. The character 就 here means 'to go to' or 'to proceed to,' while 餐 means 'meal.'

Usage

Native speakers use 就餐 in formal or written contexts, such as restaurant signs ('就餐区' - dining area), hotel notices, or business settings. In casual conversation, people typically say 吃饭 instead. Common in service industry language and polite announcements.

Examples

  1. 01
    请到二楼就餐就餐
    Qǐng dào èr lóu jiù cān jiù cān.
    Please proceed to the dining area on the second floor to eat.
  2. 02
    酒店为客人提供舒适的就餐环境。
    Jiǔdiàn wèi kèrén tígōng shūshì de jiù cān huánjìng.
    The hotel provides guests with a comfortable dining environment.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 就餐
    jiù cān
    dining area
  • 就餐时间
    jiù cān shí jiān
    dining hours, meal time
  • 就餐环境
    jiù cān huán jìng
    dining environment
  • 免费就餐
    miǎn fèi jiù cān
    free dining

Origin

就 originally meant 'to approach' or 'to move toward,' combined with 餐 (meal) to create the formal expression 'to proceed to one's meal.'

Related