noun HSK 4
cān zhuō
dining table · dinner table

Meaning

餐桌 refers to the table where people eat meals, whether at home or in a restaurant. It is composed of 餐 (meal) and 桌 (table), literally meaning 'meal table.' This is the standard, everyday term for a dining table in Mandarin Chinese.

Usage

This word is used in both formal and informal contexts. Native speakers use it to refer to any table specifically designated for eating, from a simple家庭餐桌 (family dining table) to a formal banquet table. It commonly appears in contexts discussing furniture, home decoration, dining etiquette, or restaurant settings.

Examples

  1. 01
    我们全家人每天晚上都会围着餐桌一起吃饭。
    Wǒmen quán jiā rén měi tiān wǎn shang dōu huì wéi zhe cān zhuō chī fàn.
    Our whole family gathers around the dining table to eat dinner together every evening.
  2. 02
    这张木制餐桌是我奶奶传下来的。
    Zhè zhāng zhì cān zhuō shì nǎi nai chuán xià lái de.
    This wooden dining table was passed down from my grandmother.

Characters

Measure words

  • zhāng一张餐桌

Common collocations

  • 餐桌礼仪
    cān zhuō
    table manners, dining etiquette
  • 围着餐桌
    wéi zhe cān zhuō
    around the dining table
  • 餐桌
    bǎi cān zhuō
    to set the table
  • 收拾餐桌
    shōu shi cān zhuō
    to clear the table

Origin

The word combines 餐 (meal) with 桌 (table) to create a compound noun specifying a table used for dining purposes, distinguishing it from other types of tables like 书桌 (desk) or 茶几 (coffee table).

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