排队等餐
餐厅门口排队等餐的人很多。
There are many people lining up for food outside the restaurant.
To stand in a queue waiting for one's turn to be served food, typically in a restaurant or cafeteria.
因为人太多，我们只能排队等餐。
Since there are too many people, we had to line up for food.
排队等餐的时间太长了，我们决定换一家餐厅。
The wait to line up for food was too long, so we decided to go to another restaurant.
Commonly used in everyday contexts when describing dining experiences at busy restaurants or during peak hours.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Context
In China, especially in large cities, popular restaurants often require customers to line up for seating or food service. This phrase captures that common experience.
Gold Rule
Usage in Context
Use '排队等餐' when describing a situation where people are waiting in line specifically to be served food, not for other purposes like ordering or paying.
Word Origin
The phrase combines three Chinese words: '排队' (pái duì, to queue up) + '等' (děng, to wait) + '餐' (cān, meal/food). It reflects the common dining culture in China where customers often queue for service, especially in popular restaurants.
Usage Notes
This phrase is widely used in spoken Chinese, particularly in casual conversations about dining. It emphasizes the act of waiting in line specifically for food service, as opposed to other types of queues.