晚饭时间
wǎnfàn shíjiān
The Chinese phrase for "dinner time" is 晚饭时间 (wǎnfàn shíjiān).
晚饭时间 refers specifically to the time of day when the evening meal is eaten. If you want to say "It is dinner time" to indicate that the time to eat has arrived, you can say 晚饭时间到了.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 晚饭 (wǎnfàn), meaning 'evening meal' and 时间 (shíjiān), meaning 'time'.
Which one should you use?
While 晚饭时间 is used for the evening meal, the more general phrase 吃饭时间 (chífàn shíjiān) can be used to refer to any meal time, such as breakfast or lunch.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate that a specific time has arrived, you can add 到了 (dào le) to the end of the phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
wǎnfàn shíjiān
Did you know?
- While 晚饭时间 means 'dinner time', the word 饭 (fàn) is so central to the culture that the phrase 吃饭吗? (chī fàn ma), meaning 'Are you eating?', is often used as a general greeting similar to 'How are you?'
- In some regions, instead of saying 晚饭时间到了, people might simply shout 开饭了! (kāi fàn le), which literally means 'the meal has opened'.
- During traditional festivals, the 'dinner time' meal is called 团圆饭 (tuányuán fàn), which means 'reunion meal' and emphasizes the gathering of family over the food itself.
Examples in context
- 我们可以在晚饭时间见面吗？(Wǒmen kěyǐ zài wǎn fàn shí jiān jiànmiàn ma?)Can we meet at dinner time?
- 我们几点吃晚饭？(Wǒmen jǐ diǎn chī wǎn fàn?)What time are we having dinner?
- 快到晚饭时间了。Kuài dào wǎnfàn shíjiān le.It is almost dinner time.
- 晚饭时间通常在六点。Wǎnfàn shíjiān tōngcháng zài liù diǎn.Dinner time is usually at six o'clock.
- 别在晚饭时间玩手机。Bié zài wǎnfàn shíjiān wán shǒujī.Don't play with your phone at dinner time.
Example conversation
At home during the evening.
- 浩然 Haoran晓雯，现在是晚饭时间了。Xiǎowén, xiànzài shì wǎnfàn shíjiān le.Xiaowen, it is dinner time now.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好的，我马上就来。Hǎo de, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.Okay, I'll be there right away.
- 浩然 Haoran饭菜都快凉了。Fàncài dōu kuài liáng le.The food is getting cold.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen别着急，我马上就好。Bié zháojí, wǒ mǎshàng jiù hǎo.Don't worry, I'll be ready in a moment.
