Let's talk about 聚餐 (jùcān). This word is useful for talking about group meals, which happen a lot in China. It means 'to dine together' or 'to have a meal together as a group'. It's usually a planned event, not just eating with someone by chance.
- Definition
- To dine together; to have a meal as a group.
§ Basic Usage of 聚餐
You use 聚餐 when you're talking about a gathering where the main activity is eating. It could be with family, friends, or colleagues.
我们周末要一起聚餐。
We are going to dine together this weekend. (family/friends)
公司每年都会组织一次聚餐。
The company organizes a group meal once a year. (colleagues)
§ Similar Words and When to Use 聚餐
Now, let's look at some other words related to eating and when to use 聚餐 instead.
- 吃饭 (chīfàn): This is the most general word for 'to eat a meal'. You can use it for any meal, whether you're alone or with others.
我们一起吃饭吧。
Let's eat a meal together. (Could be just two people, or a casual meal.)
While '吃饭' can imply eating with others, '聚餐' specifically highlights the 'gathering' aspect. It's more about the social event centered around food.
- 宴会 (yànhuì): This means 'banquet' or 'feast'. '宴会' is usually a more formal and elaborate event than a 聚餐. Think weddings, formal receptions, or large celebratory dinners.
公司举办了一场盛大的宴会。
The company hosted a grand banquet.
A 聚餐 can be casual or semi-formal, but an 宴会 implies a higher degree of formality and usually a larger scale. You wouldn't typically call a casual dinner with friends an 宴会.
- 派对 (pàiduì): This is the loanword for 'party'. A 派对 can include food, but its primary focus isn't necessarily just eating. It's more about socializing, entertainment, and often dancing or other activities.
昨晚的派对很有趣。
Last night's party was fun.
If you're having a gathering where food is the main attraction, and it's not super formal, 聚餐 is your word. If it's a party with food and other activities, then 派对 is better. If it's a very formal dinner, use 宴会.
§ Key Takeaway
When you want to express the idea of people intentionally coming together to share a meal, 聚餐 is the most precise and common word to use. It covers everything from a family dinner to a departmental lunch. Remember, it implies a group and a planned eating event.
Examples by Level
我们周末一起去聚餐吧。
Let's go dine together this weekend.
公司每年都会组织一次聚餐。
The company organizes a dinner gathering every year.
你喜欢和朋友聚餐吗？
Do you like dining together with friends?
这次聚餐很开心。
This dinner gathering was very happy.
我们约好明天晚上聚餐。
We agreed to dine together tomorrow evening.
聚餐的时候，大家聊得很开心。
During the dinner gathering, everyone chatted happily.
他们经常在周末聚餐。
They often dine together on weekends.
下次聚餐，你想吃什么？
Next time we dine together, what do you want to eat?
Grammar Patterns
Sentence Patterns
Subj. + 聚餐。
我们聚餐。 (Wǒmen jùcān.) We dine together.
Subj. + Verb (e.g., 想/要) + 聚餐。
我想聚餐。 (Wǒ xiǎng jùcān.) I want to dine together.
Subj. + Time + 聚餐。
我们周末聚餐。 (Wǒmen zhōumò jùcān.) We will dine together this weekend.
Subj. + Place + 聚餐。
我们去饭店聚餐。 (Wǒmen qù fàndiàn jùcān.) We go to a restaurant to dine together.
Subj. + 和 + Person + 聚餐。
我跟朋友聚餐。 (Wǒ gēn péngyou jùcān.) I dine together with friends.
Subj. + 为什么 + 聚餐？
你们为什么聚餐？ (Nǐmen wèi shénme jùcān?) Why are you dining together?
Subj. + 常常/经常 + 聚餐。
我们公司常常聚餐。 (Wǒmen gōngsī chángcháng jùcān.) Our company often dines together.
Subj. + 约 + Person + 聚餐。
他约我一起聚餐。 (Tā yuē wǒ yīqǐ jùcān.) He invited me to dine together.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a **ju**icy **can** of food shared among friends. **Ju** (聚) sounds like 'ju' in juicy, and **can** (餐) sounds like 'can'. So, **ju**icy **can** for dining together.
Visual Association
Picture a group of friends happily sharing a large, steaming hot pot at a round table. The steam rises, and everyone is reaching in with their chopsticks, laughing and talking. This image captures the essence of dining together.
Word Web
Challenge
You're planning a dinner with your friends. How would you invite them to 'dine together' using 聚餐? Example: 我们周末一起聚餐吧！(Wǒmen zhōumò yīqǐ jùcān ba!) - Let's dine together this weekend!
Test Yourself 24 questions
我们周末经常一起___。
The sentence means 'We often dine together on weekends.' '聚餐' (jùcān) means to dine together, which fits the context best.
公司每年都会组织一次员工___。
The sentence means 'The company organizes an employee ___ once a year.' '聚餐' (jùcān) means to dine together, which is a common company activity.
大家决定今晚一起___庆祝他的生日。
The sentence means 'Everyone decided to ___ together tonight to celebrate his birthday.' '聚餐' (jùcān) means to dine together, which is a typical way to celebrate.
期末考试后，同学们计划___。
The sentence means 'After the final exams, the students plan to ___.' '聚餐' (jùcān) means to dine together, a common activity after exams.
我和老朋友们约好下周五___。
The sentence means 'My old friends and I agreed to ___ next Friday.' '聚餐' (jùcān) means to dine together, a common way for friends to get together.
这个饭店很适合家庭___。
The sentence means 'This restaurant is very suitable for family ___.' '聚餐' (jùcān) means to dine together, which is something families do at restaurants.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 我们决定周末去一家新开的餐厅____。
‘聚餐’ emphasizes dining together as a group, often for a special occasion or social gathering, which fits the context of going to a newly opened restaurant. '吃饭' is more general, '约会' implies a date, and '参观' means to visit.
Which sentence correctly uses '聚餐'?
'聚餐' means to dine together, so '公司每年都会组织员工聚餐' (The company organizes employee get-togethers every year) is the correct usage. The other options are grammatically incorrect or nonsensical.
If your friends invite you to '聚餐', what are they asking you to do?
'聚餐' specifically refers to dining together as a group. The other options are incorrect activities.
You can use '聚餐' to describe eating a meal by yourself.
'聚餐' implies dining with others, a gathering for a meal, not eating alone.
A family reunion dinner can be described as a '聚餐'.
Family reunion dinners are a perfect example of '聚餐' because they involve a group of people dining together.
If you are having a business meeting over lunch, you can use '聚餐' to describe the event.
While '聚餐' often has a social connotation, it can also be used for business meals where people dine together, especially if it's a team or client meal.
公司年会通常会安排大家一起___，以增进同事之间的感情。
年会是公司聚会，大家一起吃饭是'聚餐'。
周末我们打算和老朋友们___，你来不来？
和老朋友们一起吃饭是'聚餐'。
为了庆祝项目成功，团队决定找个时间一起___。
庆祝项目成功，大家一起吃饭是'聚餐'。
“聚餐”通常指独自一人吃饭。
“聚餐”是指多人一起吃饭。
公司组织员工在餐厅一起吃饭可以称为“聚餐”。
公司组织员工在餐厅一起吃饭就是“聚餐”的一种形式。
如果你和家人在家里一起吃饭，也可以用“聚餐”来形容。
“聚餐”可以指任何形式的集体用餐，包括家庭成员一起吃饭。
Imagine you're organizing a surprise birthday dinner for a friend. Write a short message (around 50-70 characters) to another friend, inviting them and explaining the plan to 聚餐 (dine together) without the birthday person knowing. Be sure to mention the time and place.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我们为小明准备了一个惊喜生日聚餐！周六晚上七点，老地方见。别告诉他哦！ (We're planning a surprise birthday dinner for Xiao Ming! See you Saturday at 7 PM at the usual spot. Don't tell him!)
You are writing a short blog post about the importance of family gatherings. Describe a recent family 聚餐 (dinner together) and what it meant to you. Include details about the food, atmosphere, and conversations. (Around 80-120 characters)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
上周末的家庭聚餐真是温馨。妈妈做了我最爱的菜，我们边吃边聊，笑声不断。这种时刻让我感受到家庭的温暖和力量，家人团聚真的很重要。 (Last weekend's family dinner was so warm. Mom made my favorite dishes, and we chatted and laughed non-stop. These moments make me feel the warmth and strength of family; family gatherings are really important.)
You're a foreign student in China. Write a message to your Chinese friends suggesting a 聚餐 (get-together for a meal) to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. Ask about their availability and suggest a type of cuisine. (Around 60-90 characters)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
朋友们，春节快到了！我们找个时间聚餐吧？想吃火锅还是家常菜？告诉我你们什么时候方便。 (Friends, Chinese New Year is approaching! Let's find a time to dine together. Want to eat hotpot or home-style dishes? Let me know when you're available.)
根据这段文字，公司组织年度聚餐的主要目的是什么？ (According to this passage, what is the main purpose of the company organizing an annual dinner?)
Read this passage:
公司一年一度的员工福利就是组织一次大型的年度聚餐。通常我们会选择在一家有特色的餐厅，让大家在享受美食的同时，也能增进同事之间的感情。去年的聚餐在一家川菜馆，麻辣的口味让很多人都大呼过瘾。大家边吃边聊，气氛非常热烈。
根据这段文字，公司组织年度聚餐的主要目的是什么？ (According to this passage, what is the main purpose of the company organizing an annual dinner?)
文章中明确提到“让大家在享受美食的同时，也能增进同事之间的感情”，这直接指出了聚餐的主要目的。 (The passage explicitly states 'while everyone enjoys the food, they can also enhance camaraderie among colleagues,' which directly indicates the main purpose of the dinner.)
文章中明确提到“让大家在享受美食的同时，也能增进同事之间的感情”，这直接指出了聚餐的主要目的。 (The passage explicitly states 'while everyone enjoys the food, they can also enhance camaraderie among colleagues,' which directly indicates the main purpose of the dinner.)
这段文字表达了作者对和老同学聚餐的什么感受？ (What feeling does the author express about dining with old classmates in this passage?)
Read this passage:
周末和老同学聚餐，大家聊起了各自的近况。毕业这么多年，虽然工作和生活都很忙碌，但每次聚在一起，总能找回学生时代的轻松和快乐。这次聚餐我们去了学校附近的老店，味道还是和以前一样。
这段文字表达了作者对和老同学聚餐的什么感受？ (What feeling does the author express about dining with old classmates in this passage?)
文章中提到“总能找回学生时代的轻松和快乐”，以及“味道还是和以前一样”，这些都表达了作者对过去时光的怀念和与老同学相聚的愉悦。 (The passage mentions 'always being able to retrieve the ease and happiness of student days' and 'the taste is still the same as before,' all of which express the author's nostalgia for the past and joy of reuniting with old classmates.)
文章中提到“总能找回学生时代的轻松和快乐”，以及“味道还是和以前一样”，这些都表达了作者对过去时光的怀念和与老同学相聚的愉悦。 (The passage mentions 'always being able to retrieve the ease and happiness of student days' and 'the taste is still the same as before,' all of which express the author's nostalgia for the past and joy of reuniting with old classmates.)
根据这段文字，关于这家新餐厅，以下哪项描述是正确的？ (According to this passage, which of the following descriptions about this new restaurant is correct?)
Read this passage:
最近新开了一家融合菜餐厅，装修风格独特，菜品也很有创意。朋友们都提议下次聚餐去那里试试。据说他们的招牌菜是黑椒牛柳，还有一道甜点也备受好评。我已经开始期待了！
根据这段文字，关于这家新餐厅，以下哪项描述是正确的？ (According to this passage, which of the following descriptions about this new restaurant is correct?)
文章第一句就明确指出“最近新开了一家融合菜餐厅”，因此选项C是正确的。 (The first sentence of the passage clearly states 'A new fusion cuisine restaurant recently opened,' so option C is correct.)
文章第一句就明确指出“最近新开了一家融合菜餐厅”，因此选项C是正确的。 (The first sentence of the passage clearly states 'A new fusion cuisine restaurant recently opened,' so option C is correct.)
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
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This Word in Other Languages
More food words
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.
