无菜单料理
wú càidān liàolǐ
The English phrase omakase is translated into Chinese as 无菜单料理 (wú càidān liàolǐ).
The term 无菜单料理 describes a dining experience where the chef selects the dishes for the guest, often used in high-end Japanese or fusion restaurants in Chinese-speaking regions.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 无 (no/without), 菜单 (menu) and 料理 (cuisine/cooking/dish).
How do you pronounce it?
wú càidān liàolǐ
Did you know?
- Because 料理 can mean 'to deal with' or 'to finish off' a person in slang, using it incorrectly in a non-food context could sound like a threat rather than a meal.
- The word 料理 (liàolǐ) is a loanword from Japanese, meaning that the Chinese phrase for 'omakase' is actually a hybrid of native Chinese and borrowed Japanese terms.
- The character 无 in 无菜单料理 can also be written as 無 in traditional Chinese, which visually represents a 'nothingness' or 'void' echoing the Zen philosophy often associated with this dining style.
Examples in context
- 请大厨给我们来一份精选Please give us a selection of your best dishes.
- 今天的菜单由你来决定怎么样？How about you decide today's menu?
- 这家店主打无菜单料理。Zhè jiā diàn zhǔdǎ wú méncān liàolǐ.This restaurant specializes in omakase.
- 我想尝试一下这里的无菜单料理。Wǒ xiǎng chángshì yīxià zhèlǐ de wú méncān liàolǐ.I want to try the omakase here.
- 无菜单料理通常包含季节性食材。Wú méncān liàolǐ tōngcháng bāohán jìjié xìng shícái.Omakase usually includes seasonal ingredients.
Example conversation
晓雯 and 志强 are discussing dinner plans at an office.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，我们今晚去吃无菜单料理吧。Zhìqiáng, wǒmen jīnwǎn qù chī wú méncān liàolǐ ba.Zhiqiang, let's go eat omakase tonight.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好啊，我也很想尝尝。Hǎo a, wǒ yě hěn xiǎng chángchang.Sure, I want to try it too.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我就订位了。Nà wǒ jiù dìngwèi le.Then I will make a reservation.
- 志强 Zhiqiang太好了，谢谢你。Tài hǎo le, xièxiè nǐ.Great, thank you.
