美式快餐
mei shi kuai can
美式快餐 (mei shi kuai can) is the Chinese phrase for American food, specifically referring to food typically served in American fast-food restaurants.
美式快餐 is the standard way to refer to the concept of American-style fast food. In this context, common items include 汉堡包 (hamburger) and 炸鸡 (fried chicken).
Which one should you use?
美式快餐 specifically refers to American-style fast food, whereas 美国食物 (Měiguó shíwù) is a broader term for any food from the United States, such as traditional home-cooked dishes.
How do you pronounce it?
mei shi kuai can
Did you know?
- The character 美 (Měi) in 美式 means 'beautiful', which is why the official name for the United States in Chinese is 美国 (Měiguó), or 'Beautiful Country'.
- The term 快餐 (kuàicān) is so ubiquitous that it has spawned its own category of 'Chinese-style fast food' that focuses on rice and noodles rather than burgers.
- In China, the term 美式 (Měishì) is used for many things beyond food, such as 美式咖啡 (Měishì kāfēi) for a standard black Americano coffee.
Examples in context
- 美国菜在全球范围内有着广泛的影响。American cuisine has a wide influence globally.
- 周末我们一家人去吃美式食物，真是太好了！We're going to have American-style food as a family this weekend, it'll be great!
- 这家餐厅提供了各种美味佳肴，其中也包括了美国食物。This restaurant offers a variety of delicious dishes, including American food.
- 我不喜欢吃美式快餐。Wǒ bù xǐhuān chī měishì kuàicān.I don't like eating American fast food.
- 那家店的美式快餐很出名。Nà jiā diàn de měishì kuàicān hěn chūmíng.That shop's American fast food is very famous.
- 你今天想吃美式快餐吗？Nǐ jīntiān xiǎng chī měishì kuàicān ma?Do you want to eat American fast food today?
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，我们中午吃美式快餐吧。Zhìqiáng, wǒmen zhōngwǔ chī měishì kuàicān ba.Zhiqiang, let's eat American fast food for lunch.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好啊，我也正想吃汉堡。Hǎo a, wǒ yě zhèng xiǎng chī hànbǎo.Okay, I was just thinking about having a burger too.
- 佳怡 Jiayi附近就有一家很方便。Fùjìn jiù yǒu yī jiā hěn fāngbiàn.There is one nearby that is very convenient.
- 志强 Zhiqiang那我们现在就走吧。Nà wǒmen xiànzài jiù zǒu ba.Then let's go right now.
