n.
restaurant; hotel
饭店
Any place that serves meals—from a tiny corner noodle stall to a big hotel.
Literally "meal shop" (饭 + 店). In China, 饭店 spans the whole range: a humble neighborhood noodle diner (小饭店) or a luxury 5-star hotel.
Common Usage & Traps
- 小饭店 — small neighborhood diner
- 去饭店吃饭 — go to a restaurant for a meal
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饭店房间（指单纯睡觉无餐饮的小旅馆）酒店房间 / 宾馆房间While luxury hotels are called 饭店, small motels for sleeping are typically 宾馆 or 酒店.
Does 饭店 mean a fancy hotel or a casual restaurant? Why is a small noodle shop called a 饭店?
Both! 饭店 literally means "meal shop". It can mean a humble noodle shop or a hotel that serves meals.
In northern China, people call neighborhood diners and noodle joints 饭店 or 小饭馆. The word simply emphasizes "a place where you can sit down and get a hot meal".
| Word | Literal Meaning | Everyday Feel |
|---|---|---|
| 小饭店 (xiǎo fàndiàn) | Small meal-shop | Cozy neighborhood diner, noodle joint |
| 餐厅 (cāntīng) | Dining room | Standard modern restaurant |
| 酒店 / 大饭店 (jiǔdiàn) | Wine-shop / big hotel | Big hotel or banquet venue |
Appears in Stories 4 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
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你也来这家 饭店 吃饭？
Ever noticed how similar Chinese words can be? This rhyme plays with place names and homophones, from schools to hotels, even throwing in Samsung's origin. A lighthearted way to boost your word power.
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书店有好书， 饭店 吃和住，酒店没有酒。
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
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常大中在一个 饭店 里工作。
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老先生看看大中，对大中说：“五年前，我儿子也在这家 饭店 工作。
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
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晚上，大中去公司前边的一个小 饭店 吃饭。
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饭店 里有一个老先生。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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