Usage note
中餐表示中国菜，也可指午餐。
zhōng cān biǎo shì zhōng guó cài， yě kě zhǐ wǔ cān。
中餐 can mean Chinese food, or lunch in some contexts.
Context note
这里主要用作中国菜。
zhè lǐ zhǔ yào yòng zuò zhōng guó cài。
Here it mainly means Chinese food.
5 examples
我喜欢吃中餐。
wǒ xǐ huan chī zhōng cān。
I like eating Chinese food.
这家店的中餐很好吃。
zhè jiā diàn de zhōng cān hěn hǎo chī。
The Chinese food at this shop is tasty.
今天中餐吃什么？
jīn tiān zhōng cān chī shén me？
What are we having for lunch today?
他会做很多中餐。
tā huì zuò hěn duō zhōng cān。
He can cook many Chinese dishes.
中餐有很多种类。
zhōng cān yǒu hěn duō zhǒng lèi。
Chinese food has many varieties.
5 mini stories
周末他们去吃中餐。
zhōu mò tā men qù chī zhōng cān。
They went to eat Chinese food on the weekend.
妈妈做了一桌中餐。
mā ma zuò le yì zhuō zhōng cān。
Mom made a table full of Chinese dishes.
这位厨师很会做中餐。
zhè wèi chú shī hěn huì zuò zhōng cān。
This chef is very good at making Chinese food.
大家边聊天边吃中餐。
dà jiā biān liáo tiān biān chī zhōng cān。
Everyone chatted while eating Chinese food.
孩子说他最爱中餐。
hái zi shuō tā zuì ài zhōng cān。
The child said his favorite is Chinese food.
Mini dialogue
午饭时间
A
你午饭想吃什么？
Nǐ wǔfàn xiǎng chī shénme?
What do you want to eat for lunch?
B
我想吃中餐，比如米饭和炒菜。
Wǒ xiǎng chī zhōngcān, bǐrú mǐfàn hé chǎocài.
I want to eat Chinese food, like rice and stir-fried dishes.
家庭晚餐
A
妈妈，今天晚上我们吃什么？
Māma, jīntiān wǎnshang wǒmen chī shénme?
Mom, what are we eating tonight?
B
我们吃中餐，我做了饺子和汤。
Wǒmen chī zhōngcān, wǒ zuò le jiǎozi hé tāng.
We're eating Chinese food. I made dumplings and soup.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
西餐
xīcān
Western food
中餐 is Chinese food, 西餐 is Western food.
similar
中国菜
Zhōngguó cài
Chinese dishes
中餐 refers to the meal style; 中国菜 refers to the dishes themselves.