Chinese phrases
How to say enjoy your meal in Chinese
Enjoy your meal in Chinese is 请慢用 (qǐng màn yòng), which staff say as they serve the food. Chinese has no fixed “bon appétit”: at home, the host says 吃吧 (chī ba) or 多吃点 (duō chī diǎn).
请慢用
enjoy your meal (literally “please take your time”)
Ways to say enjoy your meal
请慢用
Formalenjoy your meal
What a waiter says when the food arrives. Also just 慢用.
吃吧
Everydaygo ahead and eat
The host or a parent, when the food is on the table. Often 快吃吧 or 大家吃吧.
开吃
With friendslet’s eat!
Between friends, when the food arrives and everyone has their chopsticks ready.
多吃点
Everydayhave some more
The host to guests, parents to children. You will hear it many times in one meal.
别客气
Everydayhelp yourself
The host tells guests not to hold back.
尝尝
Everydaytry it
To offer a dish: 尝尝这个, “try this.” Hosts often put a piece in your bowl as they say it.
趁热吃
Everydayeat it while it’s hot
When a hot dish arrives, especially dumplings, noodles or fish.
What guests say
我自己来
I’ll help myself
When the host keeps putting food in your bowl.
我吃饱了
I’m full
When you really can’t eat more. You may need to say it twice.
你们慢慢吃
enjoy the rest of your meal
When you finish first and leave the table.
Common mistakes
Saying 好胃口
好胃口 is a word-for-word “bon appétit.” People understand it, but it is rarely said at a Chinese meal. Staff say 请慢用, and a host says 吃吧 or 多吃点.
Hearing 慢用 as “eat slowly”
慢用 does not ask you to eat slowly. It means “take your time and enjoy it.” Say 谢谢 and start.
Starting before the host
At a family meal, wait until the host or an older person says 吃吧 or starts to eat.
Dinner at a friend’s home
饭好了，快来吃吧！
Grandma: Dinner’s ready, come and eat!
哇，好香啊！
Leon: Wow, it smells great!
尝尝这个鱼，趁热吃。
Grandma: Try this fish. Eat it while it’s hot.
嗯，太好吃了！
Leon: Mm, it’s delicious!
好吃就多吃点，别客气。
Grandma: If you like it, have more. Help yourself.
