Chinese word

上桌

Pronunciation

Pinyinshàng zhuō

Meaning

  • verbbe served

Example

菜已经上桌了，大家可以开始吃。cài yǐ jīng shàng zhuō le dà jiā ké yǐ kāi shǐ chī

The dishes have already been served, so everyone can start eating.

Illustration for 上桌 (be served)

More examples

材料准备好后，这个议题才会在会议上上桌讨论。cái liào zhǔn bèi hǎo hòu zhè ge yì tí cái huì zài huì yì shàng shàng zhuō tǎo lùn

Only after the materials are ready will this issue be brought up for discussion at the meeting.

Core concept

A dish moves from preparation or waiting into its place on the dining table, marking its arrival for the meal.

Common phrases

  • 汤品上桌tāng pǐn shàng zhuō

    soup be served

  • 主菜上桌zhǔ cài shàng zhuō

    main course be served

Similar words

上菜shàng cài: Serving dishes by carrying them out to the table.

Definition in Chinese

指菜肴或餐点被摆到餐桌上，表示可以开始用餐或菜品已放在桌面上。zhǐ cài yáo huò cān diǎn bèi bǎi dào cān zhuō shàng biǎo shì ké yǐ kāi shǐ yòng cān huò cài pǐn yǐ fàng zài zhuō miàn shàng

Word origin

上 (shàng, "go onto") + 桌 (zhuō, "table") forms a compound that pictures food reaching the table.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Chinese, the word can describe the dish's arrival rather than the staff member's action, so the dish itself can be the subject.

Other meanings

  • be put on the tableverb

Opposites

  • 端走duān zǒutake awayverb

Word lists with this word