不好吃。

Use it just like an adjective in English. You can say it alone as a reaction. You can also put it after a noun. For example, 这个包子不好吃 means 'This bun is not tasty.' If you want to be extra clear, add 很 to say 很不好吃 (very not tasty). It is the ultimate survival phrase for picky eaters. Just point and shake your head.

You can use this with friends or family easily. Use it when you are trying street food together. Use it when you are deciding which restaurant to avoid. It is perfect for casual texting about a bad lunch. If a close friend asks for your honest opinion, use it. It is honest and gets straight to the point.

Be careful using this at someone’s home. If your Chinese mother-in-law cooked, do not say this! It can sound quite rude or ungrateful. In a formal business dinner, avoid being this blunt. Instead of 不好吃, try saying the flavor is 'too strong.' Don't use it for drinks; use 不好喝 instead. Using the wrong one makes you sound a bit silly.

Food is the heart of Chinese social life. People take pride in their local cuisine and home cooking. Because of this, being direct about bad food can be sensitive. In many regions, people prefer 'saving face' over being brutally honest. However, among the younger generation, being a 'foodie' means being honest. They will post 不好吃 on social media reviews without hesitation. It’s a balance between honesty and politeness.

You might hear 太难吃了, which means 'too hard to eat' or 'disgusting.' That is much stronger than 不好吃. If you want to be softer, say 一般般 (just so-so). For drinks like tea or coffee, always switch to 不好喝. If the food is just okay but not great, you can say 不太好吃. This adds a little 'not quite' cushion to your criticism.