155 words about food & drink, taken from the key-word lists of the graded readings on this site and sorted by HSK level. Each word links to the reading where it is used, so you can see it in a real sentence.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 不客气 | bú kèqi | you're welcome | HSK 1 | 请坐，请喝茶 |
| 茶 | chá | tea | HSK 1 | 请坐，请喝茶 |
| 菜 | cài | dish; food | HSK 1 | 三口人吃饭 |
| 豆浆 | dòujiāng | soy milk | HSK 1 | 一起吃早饭 |
| 都 | dōu | all | HSK 1 | 三口人吃饭 |
| 饭馆 | fànguǎn | restaurant | HSK 1 | 在饭馆 |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy | HSK 1 | 在饭馆 |
| 欢迎 | huānyíng | to welcome | HSK 1 | 在饭馆 |
| 还是 | háishi | or (in questions) | HSK 1 | 喝茶还是咖啡 |
| 喝 | hē | to drink | HSK 1 | 请坐，请喝茶 |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | tasty (food) | HSK 1 | 三口人吃饭 |
| 鸡蛋 | jīdàn | egg | HSK 1 | 一起吃早饭 |
| 块 | kuài | kuai (unit of money) | HSK 1 | 买水果 |
| 咖啡 | kāfēi | coffee | HSK 1 | 喝茶还是咖啡 |
| 口 | kǒu | (measure: family members) | HSK 1 | 三口人吃饭 |
| 面包 | miànbāo | bread | HSK 1 | 一起吃早饭 |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy | HSK 1 | 苹果和米饭 |
| 米饭 | mǐfàn | cooked rice | HSK 1 | 苹果和米饭 |
| 牛奶 | niúnǎi | milk | HSK 1 | 一起吃早饭 |
| 苹果 | píngguǒ | apple | HSK 1 | 苹果和米饭 |
| 钱 | qián | money | HSK 1 | 买水果 |
| 请 | qǐng | please | HSK 1 | 请坐，请喝茶 |
| 热 | rè | hot | HSK 1 | 妈妈做的菜 |
| 水果 | shuǐguǒ | fruit | HSK 1 | 苹果和米饭 |
| 商店 | shāngdiàn | store | HSK 1 | 买水果 |
| 太 | tài | too; so | HSK 1 | 妈妈做的菜 |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | thank you | HSK 1 | 请坐，请喝茶 |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | HSK 1 | 苹果和米饭 |
| 一起 | yìqǐ | together | HSK 1 | 一起吃早饭 |
| 也 | yě | also | HSK 1 | 妈妈做的菜 |
| 中午 | zhōngwǔ | noon | HSK 1 | 苹果和米饭 |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit | HSK 1 | 请坐，请喝茶 |
| 做菜 | zuò cài | to cook | HSK 1 | 妈妈做的菜 |
| 再 | zài | again | HSK 1 | 在饭馆 |
| 早饭 | zǎofàn | breakfast | HSK 1 | 一起吃早饭 |
| 比 | bǐ | compared to | HSK 2 | 真好吃 |
| 菜单 | càidān | menu | HSK 2 | 菜单 |
| 次 | cì | time; occasion | HSK 2 | 服务员，买单 |
| 点 | diǎn | to order (food) | HSK 2 | 点菜 |
| 但是 | dànshì | but | HSK 2 | 菜单 |
| 第一次 | dì-yī cì | the first time | HSK 2 | 第一次吃火锅 |
| 服务员 | fúwùyuán | waiter; server | HSK 2 | 买咖啡 |
| 贵 | guì | expensive | HSK 2 | 买咖啡 |
| 锅 | guō | pot | HSK 2 | 第一次吃火锅 |
| 更 | gèng | even more | HSK 2 | 菜单 |
| 给 | gěi | to give | HSK 2 | 服务员，买单 |
| 火锅 | huǒguō | hotpot | HSK 2 | 第一次吃火锅 |
| 还 | hái | even more | HSK 2 | 真好吃 |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | HSK 2 | 卖西瓜的人 |
| 好喝 | hǎohē | tasty (for drinks) | HSK 2 | 买咖啡 |
| 极 | jí | extremely | HSK 2 | 真好吃 |
| 快乐 | kuàilè | happy | HSK 2 | 一起做饭 |
| 看见 | kànjiàn | to see | HSK 2 | 卖西瓜的人 |
| 看看 | kànkan | to take a look | HSK 2 | 菜单 |
| 咖啡店 | kāfēidiàn | coffee shop | HSK 2 | 买咖啡 |
| 开心 | kāixīn | happy | HSK 2 | 和同事吃午饭 |
| 辣 | là | spicy | HSK 2 | 第一次吃火锅 |
| 力气 | lìqi | strength; energy | HSK 2 | 喝牛奶吃鸡蛋 |
| 卖 | mài | to sell | HSK 2 | 卖西瓜的人 |
| 买单 | mǎidān | to pay the bill (at a restaurant) | HSK 2 | 服务员，买单 |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap | HSK 2 | 羊肉还是鱼 |
| 旁边 | pángbiān | beside; next to | HSK 2 | 一起做饭 |
| 妻子 | qīzi | wife | HSK 2 | 一起做饭 |
| 什么 | shénme | what | HSK 2 | 菜单 |
| 挑食 | tiāoshí | picky about food | HSK 2 | 和同事吃午饭 |
| 同事 | tóngshì | coworker | HSK 2 | 和同事吃午饭 |
| 完 | wán | to finish | HSK 2 | 点菜 |
| 午饭 | wǔfàn | lunch | HSK 2 | 和同事吃午饭 |
| 下次 | xià cì | next time | HSK 2 | 点菜 |
| 项目 | xiàngmù | project | HSK 2 | 和同事吃午饭 |
| 习惯 | xíguàn | to be used to | HSK 2 | 喝牛奶吃鸡蛋 |
| 西瓜 | xīguā | watermelon | HSK 2 | 卖西瓜的人 |
| 洗 | xǐ | to wash | HSK 2 | 一起做饭 |
| 羊肉 | yángròu | lamb; mutton | HSK 2 | 第一次吃火锅 |
| 一点儿 | yìdiǎnr | a little | HSK 2 | 真好吃 |
| 一共 | yígòng | in total; altogether | HSK 2 | 服务员，买单 |
| 鱼 | yú | fish | HSK 2 | 羊肉还是鱼 |
| 有点儿 | yǒudiǎnr | a little (+ negative feeling) | HSK 2 | 买咖啡 |
| 张 | zhāng | (measure word for flat objects) | HSK 2 | 菜单 |
| 煮 | zhǔ | to boil; to cook | HSK 2 | 喝牛奶吃鸡蛋 |
| 做客 | zuòkè | to visit as a guest | HSK 2 | 真好吃 |
| 不错 | búcuò | pretty good | HSK 3 | 点外卖 |
| 杯子 | bēizi | cup; glass | HSK 3 | 干杯 |
| 饱 | bǎo | full (from eating) | HSK 3 | 我饱了 |
| 吃不下 | chībuxià | can't eat any more | HSK 3 | 我饱了 |
| 炒 | chǎo | to stir-fry | HSK 3 | 学做中国菜 |
| 当然 | dāngrán | of course | HSK 3 | 打包 |
| 打电话 | dǎ diànhuà | to make a phone call | HSK 3 | 我饿了 |
| 打包 | dǎbāo | to pack up (leftover food) to go | HSK 3 | 打包 |
| 放心 | fàngxīn | to rest assured; not to worry | HSK 3 | 我不吃辣 |
| 付 | fù | to pay | HSK 3 | 我请客 |
| 干杯 | gānbēi | cheers! (bottoms up) | HSK 3 | 干杯 |
| 健康 | jiànkāng | healthy | HSK 3 | 干杯 |
| 决定 | juédìng | to decide | HSK 3 | 请客吃饭 |
| 渴 | kě | thirsty | HSK 3 | 我饿了 |
| 聊天 | liáotiān | to chat | HSK 3 | 学做中国菜 |
| 聊天儿 | liáotiānr | to chat | HSK 3 | 请客吃饭 |
| 浪费 | làngfèi | to waste | HSK 3 | 打包 |
| 楼下 | lóuxià | downstairs | HSK 3 | 点外卖 |
| 啤酒 | píjiǔ | beer | HSK 3 | 干杯 |
| 抢 | qiǎng | to rush to do something first | HSK 3 | 我请客 |
| 请客 | qǐngkè | to treat (someone to a meal) | HSK 3 | 我请客 |
| 让 | ràng | to let; to allow | HSK 3 | 我饱了 |
| 容易 | róngyì | easy | HSK 3 | 学做中国菜 |
| 剩 | shèng | to have left over; remaining | HSK 3 | 打包 |
| 身体 | shēntǐ | body; health | HSK 3 | 干杯 |
| 外卖 | wàimài | food delivery | HSK 3 | 点外卖 |
| 咸 | xián | salty | HSK 3 | 学做中国菜 |
| 西红柿 | xīhóngshì | tomato | HSK 3 | 学做中国菜 |
| 盐 | yán | salt | HSK 3 | 学做中国菜 |
| 一边 | yìbiān | while (doing two things at once) | HSK 3 | 我饿了 |
| 一次 | yí cì | once | HSK 3 | 打包 |
| 一个人 | yí ge rén | alone; by oneself | HSK 3 | 我不吃辣 |
| 应该 | yīnggāi | should | HSK 3 | 我请客 |
| 桌子 | zhuōzi | table | HSK 3 | 我饱了 |
| 做饭 | zuòfàn | to cook | HSK 3 | 点外卖 |
| 坐下 | zuòxià | to sit down | HSK 3 | 干杯 |
| 饿 | è | hungry | HSK 3 | 我饿了 |
| 拆迁 | chāiqiān | demolish and relocate | HSK 4 | 夜市文化 |
| 顿 | dùn | (measure word for meals) | HSK 4 | 火锅与朋友 |
| 方式 | fāngshì | way; method | HSK 4 | 火锅与朋友 |
| 购物 | gòuwù | to shop | HSK 4 | 夜市文化 |
| 价格 | jiàgé | price | HSK 4 | 奶茶经济 |
| 暖和 | nuǎnhuo | warm | HSK 4 | 火锅与朋友 |
| 奶茶 | nǎichá | milk tea; bubble tea | HSK 4 | 奶茶经济 |
| 排队 | páiduì | to queue up | HSK 4 | 奶茶经济 |
| 热闹 | rènao | lively; bustling | HSK 4 | 火锅与朋友 |
| 随着 | suízhe | along with; as | HSK 4 | 咖啡文化 |
| 讨论 | tǎolùn | to discuss | HSK 4 | 奶茶经济 |
| 文化 | wénhuà | culture | HSK 4 | 咖啡文化 |
| 小吃 | xiǎochī | snacks | HSK 4 | 夜市文化 |
| 性格 | xìnggé | character; personality | HSK 4 | 夜市文化 |
| 西方 | xīfāng | the West | HSK 4 | 咖啡文化 |
| 心情 | xīnqíng | mood; state of mind | HSK 4 | 奶茶经济 |
| 夜市 | yèshì | night market | HSK 4 | 夜市文化 |
| 一刻 | yíkè | a moment | HSK 4 | 咖啡文化 |
| 饮料 | yǐnliào | beverage | HSK 4 | 咖啡文化 |
| 层次 | céngcì | layers | HSK 5 | 川菜的哲学 |
| 发酵 | fājiào | to ferment | HSK 5 | 美食纪录片 |
| 怪味 | guàiwèi | strange flavor | HSK 5 | 川菜的哲学 |
| 讲究 | jiǎngjiu | to be particular about | HSK 5 | 一碗兰州拉面 |
| 纪录片 | jìlùpiàn | documentary | HSK 5 | 美食纪录片 |
| 镜头 | jìngtóu | shot; camera scene | HSK 5 | 美食纪录片 |
| 萝卜 | luóbo | radish | HSK 5 | 一碗兰州拉面 |
| 辣椒 | làjiāo | chili pepper | HSK 5 | 一碗兰州拉面 |
| 荔枝 | lìzhī | lychee | HSK 5 | 川菜的哲学 |
| 拉面 | lāmiàn | hand-pulled noodles | HSK 5 | 一碗兰州拉面 |
| 磨 | mó | to grind | HSK 5 | 美食纪录片 |
| 米线 | mǐxiàn | rice noodles | HSK 5 | 美食纪录片 |
| 泡椒 | pàojiāo | pickled chili | HSK 5 | 川菜的哲学 |
| 热腾腾 | rètēngténg | steaming hot | HSK 5 | 美食纪录片 |
| 香菜 | xiāngcài | cilantro | HSK 5 | 一碗兰州拉面 |
| 鱼香 | yúxiāng | fish-fragrant flavor | HSK 5 | 川菜的哲学 |
| 哲学 | zhéxué | philosophy | HSK 5 | 川菜的哲学 |
| 熬 | áo | to simmer; to stew slowly | HSK 5 | 一碗兰州拉面 |