When it's time to eat, Chinese people often say 开饭 (kāifàn). This literally means 'start the meal'. You can use it when you're telling your family or friends that dinner is ready. Imagine you've just finished cooking a delicious meal and everyone is waiting. You would say, '开饭啦!' (Kāifàn la!) which means 'Dinner's ready!' or 'Let's eat!'
When someone says 开饭 (kāi fàn), it means it's time to start eating, or dinner is served. This is a very practical and common phrase used in daily life in China. You’ll hear it a lot in homes and sometimes even in restaurants when the food is ready. It's a simple way to announce that a meal is about to begin. It's often used in a casual and friendly context, signaling everyone to gather and enjoy the food. Knowing this phrase will definitely help you feel more at home in Chinese-speaking environments.
When we say “开饭了!” (Kāi fàn le!), it's like announcing “Dinner’s ready!” or “Time to eat!” in English. This phrase is commonly used in families or groups to signal that the food has been prepared and everyone should gather to start the meal. It creates a sense of shared anticipation and the beginning of a communal activity.
It can also be used in a more general sense to describe the act of starting to eat, even if it's just one person. Think of it as the moment when the eating officially commences.
§ Don't confuse 开饭 (kāi fàn) with 吃 (chī) or 吃饭 (chī fàn)
Many beginners, and even intermediate learners, get a bit tripped up between 开饭 (kāi fàn), 吃 (chī), and 吃饭 (chī fàn). They all relate to eating, but they're used in different contexts. Think of it this way:
- 开饭 (kāi fàn)
- To announce that a meal is ready to be served or eaten. It's about the start of the meal event.
- 吃 (chī)
- The general verb "to eat." You use it for any act of eating.
- 吃饭 (chī fàn)
- To eat a meal. This is the act of consuming the food that has been served.
The key difference is the *announcement* or *initiation* aspect of 开饭 (kāi fàn). You wouldn't say "我现在开饭" (Wǒ xiànzài kāi fàn) to mean "I am eating now." That's incorrect. You would say "我现在吃饭" (Wǒ xiànzài chī fàn).
妈妈说，开饭了！ (Māma shuō, kāi fàn le!)
Mom said, the meal is ready!
你吃了吗？ (Nǐ chī le ma?)
Have you eaten?
我们现在吃饭吧。 (Wǒmen xiànzài chī fàn ba.)
Let's eat now.
§ Using 开饭 (kāi fàn) when you mean to invite someone to eat
While 开饭 (kāi fàn) means the meal is ready, it's not typically used as a direct invitation like "Come and eat!" in English. For that, you'd use something more explicit.
- Incorrect: 大家都来开饭！ (Dàjiā dōu lái kāi fàn!) – This sounds like you're saying "Everyone come and start a meal!" which is a bit clunky.
- Correct: 大家快来吃饭吧！ (Dàjiā kuài lái chī fàn ba!) – "Everyone come quickly to eat!" or "Come and eat, everyone!"
- Correct: 饭好了，我们吃饭吧！ (Fàn hǎo le, wǒmen chī fàn ba!) – "The food is ready, let's eat!"
You *can* say "开饭了，大家快来！" (Kāi fàn le, dàjiā kuài lái!), which means "The meal is ready, everyone come quickly!" Here, "开饭了" sets the stage, and "大家快来" is the invitation.
奶奶喊着说，开饭了！ (Nǎinai hǎnzhe shuō, kāi fàn le!)
Grandma shouted, the meal is ready!
§ Overusing 开饭 (kāi fàn) in formal contexts
While perfectly natural in a home or casual setting, 开饭 (kāi fàn) might sound a bit too informal for certain situations, like a formal dinner party or a business lunch. In those cases, you'd likely use more formal phrasing or simply rely on cues.
- At home: "开饭了！" (Kāi fàn le!) is perfect.
- At a restaurant (to guests): You wouldn't typically say "开饭了" (Kāi fàn le). Instead, the waiter might say "菜都齐了，请慢用" (Cài dōu qí le, qǐng màn yòng), meaning "All the dishes are here, please enjoy your meal." Or the host might say "请大家随意" (Qǐng dàjiā suíyì), meaning "Please help yourselves."
It's about knowing your audience and the social context. For most everyday interactions, 开饭 (kāi fàn) is great, but be mindful of more formal scenarios.
我们家每天晚上七点开饭。 (Wǒmen jiā měitiān wǎnshang qī diǎn kāi fàn.)
Our family starts dinner at 7 PM every night.
How Formal Is It?
"妈，开饭了！(Mā, kāifàn le!) - Mom, dinner is ready!"
"宝宝，吃饭饭了！(Bǎobǎo, chīfànfàn le!) - Baby, time to eat!"
Wird oft verwechselt mit
开门 means 'to open the door.' The '开' (kāi) is the same, but the context is completely different. Don't mix up opening a door with starting a meal.
开会 means 'to hold a meeting' or 'to start a meeting.' Again, '开' (kāi) is used, but for a meeting, not food.
开水 means 'boiled water.' Here, '开' (kāi) means 'boiling' or 'open,' but in the context of water, it's about its state, not starting an action.
Leicht verwechselbar
Both 开饭 and 开始 involve 'kai' (开). 开始 means 'to begin' or 'to start' generally, while 开饭 is specific to meals.
开始 is a general verb for starting anything. 开饭 specifically means starting a meal.
电影九点开始。 (Diànyǐng jiǔ diǎn kāishǐ.) - The movie starts at 9 o'clock. / 我们开始吃饭吧。 (Wǒmen kāishǐ chīfàn ba.) - Let's start eating.
Both relate to eating. 吃饭 means 'to eat a meal' or 'to have a meal,' which is the act itself. 开饭 is about the *beginning* of that act.
开饭 is the signal or announcement that a meal is ready to be eaten. 吃饭 is the action of eating the meal.
我们吃饭了。 (Wǒmen chīfàn le.) - We are eating. / 妈妈叫我们开饭了。 (Māmā jiào wǒmen kāifàn le.) - Mom called us to start the meal.
Both involve the preparation for eating. 上菜 means 'to serve dishes' or 'to bring food to the table.'
上菜 refers to the food being brought out. 开饭 means the entire meal is ready and can begin, often implying the food is already served or about to be served.
服务员开始上菜了。 (Fúwùyuán kāishǐ shàngcài le.) - The waiter started serving dishes. / 菜都上齐了，我们可以开饭了。 (Cài dōu shàng qí le, wǒmen kěyǐ kāifàn le.) - All the dishes are served, we can start eating.
Both relate to meals. 做饭 means 'to cook' or 'to prepare a meal.'
做饭 is the process of cooking. 开饭 is the announcement that the cooking is done and the meal is ready to be consumed.
妈妈正在做饭。 (Māmā zhèngzài zuòfàn.) - Mom is cooking. / 饭做好了，可以开饭了。 (Fàn zuò hǎo le, kěyǐ kāifàn le.) - The food is ready, we can start eating.
Both indicate the meal is ready. This phrase literally means 'the food is ready.'
饭好了 is a statement about the food's readiness. 开饭 is an action verb, often an invitation or command to start eating, based on the food being ready.
饭好了，快过来吃吧。 (Fàn hǎo le, kuài guòlái chī ba.) - The food is ready, come and eat quickly. / 饭好了，开饭了！ (Fàn hǎo le, kāifàn le!) - The food is ready, let's eat!
Tipps
Basic Usage of 开饭
The most common usage of 开饭 is when someone announces that food is ready and it's time to eat. Think of it as a simple, direct command or statement.
Who Says 开饭?
Typically, the person who has prepared the meal or the host will say 开饭. It's an invitation to the table.
Responding to 开饭
When you hear 开饭, a simple '好的!' (Hǎo de! - Okay!) or '来了!' (Lái le! - Coming!) is a polite and common response. Then, go eat!
Don't Confuse with 吃饭
开饭 means to start the meal or announce it's ready. 吃饭 (chī fàn) simply means to eat a meal. You can be吃饭 (eating) without someone having just said 开饭 (meal is ready).
Family Meal Time
In Chinese culture, meals are often a significant family gathering. 开饭 signals this communal event. It's a call to come together.
No Direct Object Needed
Unlike 'start the dinner,' 开饭 doesn't usually take a direct object. It's a complete phrase meaning 'the meal is starting' or 'let's eat!'
Informal and Friendly
开饭 is an informal and friendly term. You'd use it with family and close friends, not in a formal dining setting.
Can Refer to Any Meal
While often used for dinner, 开饭 can refer to the start of breakfast, lunch, or any meal where food is served and announced.
Figurative Use (Rare)
In very rare, almost poetic contexts, 开饭 might be used figuratively, but for A2 learners, stick to its literal meaning: the start of a meal.
Practice Saying It
The best way to remember 开饭 is to practice saying it. Imagine you're calling your family to dinner: '开饭了！' (Kāi fàn le! - Meal time!)
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Family dinner time
- 妈，开饭了！ (Mom, dinner's ready!)
- 快点，开饭了！ (Hurry up, dinner's served!)
- 开饭啦！大家快来！ (Dinner time! Everyone come quickly!)
Friends gathering for a meal
- 好了，开饭！ (Alright, let's eat!)
- 菜都上齐了，开饭吧。 (All the dishes are here, let's start the meal.)
- 别等了，开饭！ (Don't wait, dig in!)
Waiting for food at a restaurant (less common, but possible)
- 服务员，什么时候开饭？ (Waiter, when will the food be served?)
- 我们什么时候可以开饭？ (When can we start eating?)
- 饭好了吗？可以开饭了吗？ (Is the food ready? Can we start eating?)
At a school or work cafeteria
- 食堂开饭了。 (The cafeteria is serving food.)
- 到点开饭。 (It's time for lunch/dinner.)
- 什么时候开饭？ (When do they start serving food?)
When a pet is about to be fed
- 狗狗，开饭了！ (Doggy, dinner time!)
- 猫咪，开饭！ (Kitty, let's eat!)
- 该开饭了。 (It's time to feed them.)
Gesprächseinstiege
"你们家一般什么时候开饭？ (What time do you usually eat dinner at your house?)"
"你饿了吗？我们是不是该开饭了？ (Are you hungry? Should we start eating?)"
"今天晚上你打算几点开饭？ (What time do you plan to eat dinner tonight?)"
"你喜欢和家人一起开饭吗？ (Do you like to eat meals with your family?)"
"在你们国家，大家吃饭前会说“开饭”吗？ (In your country, do people say "let's eat" before a meal?)"
Tagebuch-Impulse
今天你和谁一起开饭了？吃了什么？ (Who did you eat with today? What did you eat?)
描述一次你期待的开饭场景。 (Describe a mealtime scene you're looking forward to.)
你最喜欢什么时候开饭？早上、中午还是晚上？为什么？ (When do you like to eat the most? Morning, noon, or night? Why?)
当你听到“开饭”时，你会想到什么？ (What do you think of when you hear "dinner time"?)
如果你要请朋友来家里开饭，你会准备什么？ (If you were inviting friends over for a meal, what would you prepare?)
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 Fragen开饭 (kāifàn) means 'to start a meal' or 'mealtime has begun.' It's about the action of the meal commencing. 吃饭 (chīfàn) simply means 'to eat a meal' or 'to have a meal.' You say 开饭 when the food is ready and it's time to gather and eat. You 吃饭 when you are actually eating.
Yes, you can use 开饭 (kāifàn) for any meal of the day – breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's a general term for the start of any meal.
开饭 (kāifàn) is generally used in informal, everyday situations, especially among family or close friends. It's like saying 'Dinner's ready!' or 'Let's eat!'
You can say 开饭了 (kāifàn le). The '了' indicates a change of state, meaning 'mealtime has started.' For example, '孩子们，开饭了！' (Kids, dinner's ready!)
While you can say '我们开饭吧' (Let's start eating) if you're already at the table, you wouldn't typically use 开饭 (kāifàn) to *invite* someone to a restaurant meal. You'd use phrases like '我们去吃饭吧' (Let's go eat) or '你想吃什么？' (What do you want to eat?)
Yes, 开饭 (kāifàn) strongly implies that the food is already prepared and on the table, or at least ready to be served very soon. It signals that it's time to gather and eat.
For a more formal or polite way, especially if addressing elders or guests, you might say '请大家用餐' (qǐng dàjiā yòngcān - Please everyone, have a meal) or simply '我们可以开始用餐了' (wǒmen kěyǐ kāishǐ yòngcān le - We can start eating now). 开饭 (kāifàn) is quite direct and informal.
In 开饭 (kāifàn), 饭 (fàn) means 'meal' or 'cooked rice.' Here, it refers to the entire meal, not just rice. The '开' (kāi) means 'to start' or 'to open.'
Not really. 开饭 (kāifàn) is primarily used as a verb phrase, meaning 'to start a meal.' If you wanted to say 'the start of the meal,' you'd use a different construction, like '饭点到了' (fàndiǎn dào le - mealtime has arrived).
A common and direct usage is simply '开饭了 (kāifàn le)' (Mealtime has started / Let's eat!). You might also hear '该开饭了' (gāi kāifàn le - It's time to start eating). It's a straightforward term without many complex idiomatic expressions attached to it.
Teste dich selbst 54 Fragen
我们准备好了，可以___了。
‘开饭’ means to start a meal. The sentence indicates readiness to begin eating.
妈妈说：‘孩子们，快来，___了！’
‘开饭’ is what a parent would say to announce that food is ready to be served and eaten.
时间到了，我们该___了。
When it's mealtime, ‘开饭’ is the appropriate action to take.
饭菜都热了，可以___了。
If the food is hot, it means it's ready to eat, so it's time to ‘开饭’.
大家坐下，我们准备___。
When everyone is seated, it's a common sign that a meal is about to begin, thus ‘开饭’.
小狗闻到香味，知道要___了。
Smelling food suggests that it's time for the meal to start, or ‘开饭’.
Choose the correct pinyin for "开饭".
The correct pinyin for 开饭 is kāi fàn. 开 (kāi) means 'to open' or 'to start', and 饭 (fàn) means 'meal' or 'rice'.
What does "开饭" mean?
开饭 (kāi fàn) literally means 'open meal' or 'start meal', so it means 'to start a meal'.
Which sentence uses "开饭" correctly?
开饭 is a verb meaning 'to start a meal'. The first sentence uses it correctly as an announcement that the meal is ready to be eaten. The other options use it grammatically incorrectly or out of context.
When someone says '开饭了！', it means the meal is over.
No, '开饭了！' (Kāifàn le!) means 'Dinner is served!' or 'Time to eat!' It indicates the start of a meal, not the end.
You can use "开饭" when you are hungry and want to tell someone it's time to eat.
Yes, '开饭了！' (Kāifàn le!) is a common way to announce that it's time to eat, especially in a family setting.
The word "开饭" can be used to describe opening a restaurant.
No, "开饭" specifically refers to starting to eat a meal. To talk about opening a restaurant, you would use a different phrase like "开餐馆" (kāi cānguǎn).
妈妈说，饺子好了，我们____吧！
“开饭” means to start a meal. The context implies that the dumplings are ready, so it's time to eat.
饿死了，爸爸什么时候才____啊？
The speaker is hungry, so they are waiting for the meal to start. “开饭” fits this context.
晚饭已经做好，大家快来____。
Dinner is ready, so it's time to start eating. “开饭” is the correct verb.
孩子们听到“____”的声音，都跑过来了。
Children often get excited when it's time to eat, so hearing “开饭” would make them run over.
奶奶说：“饭菜凉了就不好吃了，快点____！”
Grandma is urging everyone to eat before the food gets cold. “开饭” means to start eating.
他工作很忙，常常不能按时____。
Being busy with work often means missing meals or not eating on time. “按时开饭” means to start a meal on time.
This is a common way to ask if it's time to start eating. '我们' (we), '可以' (can), '开饭' (start meal), '吗' (question particle).
'妈妈' (Mom) '说' (says) '要开饭了' (it's time to start eating). The '要...了' structure indicates something is about to happen.
'饭做好了' (The food is ready), '可以开饭了' (we can start eating).
Choose the most appropriate response: 妈妈在厨房喊道：“___！”
The context implies food. '开饭了' means 'Dinner is served' or 'Time to eat'.
If you hear someone say '咱们 ___ 吧！', what are they likely suggesting?
'开饭' directly translates to starting a meal, so '咱们开饭吧' means 'Let's start eating'.
Which sentence correctly uses '开饭'?
'开饭' refers to starting a meal, which is appropriate for a household context.
When your mother says '开饭了!', it means she's about to cook dinner.
'开饭了' means the meal is ready and it's time to eat, not that cooking is about to start.
You can use '开饭' to describe a restaurant opening for business.
'开饭' is specifically about starting a meal, not a general business opening. For a restaurant opening, you'd use '开门' (to open doors) or '开业' (to open for business).
If you are very hungry, you might ask, '什么时候开饭？'
Asking '什么时候开饭？' (When will dinner start?) is a natural question when you're hungry and waiting for a meal.
Imagine you are hosting a dinner party. Write a short message (2-3 sentences) to your guests telling them the food is ready and it's time to eat. Make sure to use '开饭'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
大家好，菜已经准备好了，我们可以开饭了。请大家入座。
Describe a common situation in your culture when people say '开饭' or a similar phrase. Write 2-3 sentences.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
在中国，家人吃饭前，长辈会说“开饭了”。大家会放下手里的事情，一起去吃饭。
You are at a friend's house. Your friend's mom just announced that dinner is ready. How would you express your anticipation for the meal using '开饭' in a short sentence?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
太好了，终于开饭了！我肚子好饿啊。
When did the mom tell the narrator to eat?
Read this passage:
今天我回家晚了，妈妈已经把饭做好了。我一进门，妈妈就笑着对我说：“快来，开饭了！” 我闻到饭菜的香味，感到非常高兴。
When did the mom tell the narrator to eat?
The passage states '我一进门，妈妈就笑着对我说：“快来，开饭了！”' (As soon as I entered the door, Mom smiled and said to me, 'Come quickly, dinner is served!').
The passage states '我一进门，妈妈就笑着对我说：“快来，开饭了！”' (As soon as I entered the door, Mom smiled and said to me, 'Come quickly, dinner is served!').
What might cause the meal to start later in a rural Chinese family?
Read this passage:
在中国农村，人们通常在中午十二点左右开饭。一家人会围坐在一起，分享简单的家常菜。如果家里有客人，开饭的时间可能会稍微晚一些，等待客人。
What might cause the meal to start later in a rural Chinese family?
The passage says '如果家里有客人，开饭的时间可能会稍微晚一些，等待客人。' (If there are guests at home, the meal time might be a little later, waiting for the guests).
The passage says '如果家里有客人，开饭的时间可能会稍微晚一些，等待客人。' (If there are guests at home, the meal time might be a little later, waiting for the guests).
What needs to happen before they can start eating the big meal?
Read this passage:
小明今天非常兴奋，因为是他生日。妈妈说，等爸爸下班回家，大家一起唱完生日歌，就可以开饭吃大餐了。小明已经迫不及待了。
What needs to happen before they can start eating the big meal?
The passage states '等爸爸下班回家，大家一起唱完生日歌，就可以开饭吃大餐了。' (After Dad gets off work and everyone finishes singing the birthday song together, they can start eating the big meal).
The passage states '等爸爸下班回家，大家一起唱完生日歌，就可以开饭吃大餐了。' (After Dad gets off work and everyone finishes singing the birthday song together, they can start eating the big meal).
Choose the most appropriate response. A: 孩子们都饿了，我们___吧。 B: 好啊，正好菜也上齐了。
开饭 (kāi fàn) means to start a meal, often used when calling people to eat. 吃饭 (chī fàn) means to eat a meal. 用餐 (yòng cān) and 用膳 (yòng shàn) are more formal ways of saying to eat a meal.
Which of the following situations is the most suitable to use '开饭'?
开饭 (kāi fàn) is typically used in an informal setting to announce that a meal is ready and it's time to start eating, often to a group of people.
Which sentence correctly uses '开饭'?
开饭 (kāi fàn) implies the action of starting a meal, often by announcing it. Option C correctly uses it in this context. Options A and B use it incorrectly as 'I start eating' or 'the restaurant starts serving'. Option D should be '去朋友家吃饭' (go to a friend's house to eat).
You can use '开饭' to describe when a restaurant starts serving food for the evening.
'开饭' (kāi fàn) is generally used in an informal context to announce that a meal is ready at home, not for a restaurant's operating hours.
If your friend asks if you want to eat, you can respond with '开饭'.
'开饭' (kāi fàn) is used to announce that a meal is ready. If someone asks if you want to eat, you would typically respond with something like '好啊' (hǎo a - okay) or '想' (xiǎng - want to).
After hearing '开饭了！', you would expect people to gather to eat.
'开饭了！' (kāi fàn le!) is a common phrase to call people to the table because the meal is ready to be served and eaten.
全家人都围坐在餐桌旁，等着妈妈说“_____”才动筷子。
“开饭”意为开始用餐，常用于家庭或集体场合，表示饭菜已备好，可以开吃了。
每次奶奶都会在饭点前做好一桌子菜，然后喊一声“_____啦！”，我们就会立刻放下手中的事跑过去。
“开饭啦”是家里长辈招呼大家吃饭的常用表达，充满了生活气息。
部队里的战士们，每天训练结束后最期待的就是食堂里那一声洪亮的“_____！”
在集体用餐的场合，如部队、学校等，“开饭”是通知大家可以开始吃饭的固定用语。
孩子们在户外玩耍得正开心，听到妈妈喊“_____了！”才不情愿地跑回家。
这里“开饭了”是父母叫孩子回家吃饭的口语表达，体现了日常生活的场景。
虽然饭菜还没完全上齐，但听到领导说“_____吧”，大家也就动筷子了。
“开饭”在这里表示允许大家开始吃饭，即使菜品不全，也象征着用餐的开始。
每年过年，当所有的亲戚都到齐，丰盛的年夜饭摆上桌后，长辈们会共同说一声“_____”，大家才开始享用。
在重要的家庭聚餐时刻，“开饭”带有仪式感，表示团聚的时刻正式开始。
This is a common exclamation meaning 'Dinner is served!' or 'Time to eat!'
This phrase means 'Dinner will be ready very soon.'
This asks 'Can we start eating now?'
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Usage of 开饭
The most common usage of 开饭 is when someone announces that food is ready and it's time to eat. Think of it as a simple, direct command or statement.
Who Says 开饭?
Typically, the person who has prepared the meal or the host will say 开饭. It's an invitation to the table.
Responding to 开饭
When you hear 开饭, a simple '好的!' (Hǎo de! - Okay!) or '来了!' (Lái le! - Coming!) is a polite and common response. Then, go eat!
Don't Confuse with 吃饭
开饭 means to start the meal or announce it's ready. 吃饭 (chī fàn) simply means to eat a meal. You can be吃饭 (eating) without someone having just said 开饭 (meal is ready).
Beispiel
饭菜做好了，大家快来开饭！
Verwandte Inhalte
Mehr food Wörter
一两
B1Fifty grams; a Chinese unit of weight (approx. 50g).
一斤
B1Half a kilogram; a Chinese unit of weight (approx. 500g).
一袋
B1A bag of.
少一点儿
A2A bit less.
多一点儿
A2A bit more.
一口
B1A mouthful; a bite; a small amount (of food or drink).
一瓶
B1A bottle of.
一碗
B1Measure word for a bowl of food.
一盒
B1A box of.
一杯
B1Measure word for a cup of liquid.
