noun HSK 3
cafeteria · dining hall · canteen · mess hall
Meaning
食堂 refers to a communal dining facility where groups of people eat together, typically found in schools, universities, workplaces, military bases, and other institutions. It's a place where prepared meals are served at relatively low cost, often with set menus or limited choices.
Usage
This is the standard term for institutional dining facilities in Mainland China. Students commonly say 去食堂吃饭 (go to the cafeteria to eat). In schools and workplaces, the 食堂 is often a central social space. The term carries a practical, everyday register and is neutral in tone.
Examples
- 01我们学校的食堂饭菜很便宜。.The food in our school cafeteria is very cheap.
- 02中午我通常在公司食堂吃午饭。.At noon I usually eat lunch in the company cafeteria.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个食堂
- 家三家食堂
Common collocations
- 学校食堂school cafeteria
- 职工食堂employee cafeteria
- 去食堂go to the cafeteria
- 食堂吃饭eat in the cafeteria
Origin
Literally means 'food hall' or 'eating hall,' combining 食 (food/eating) with 堂 (hall/room). The term reflects the communal nature of institutional dining spaces.