====== diǎncān: 点餐 - To Order Food ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 点餐, diancan, diǎncān, how to order food in Chinese, ordering in China, Chinese restaurant vocabulary, 菜单, càidān, fúwùyuán, order dishes Chinese, Chinese dining etiquette, 点菜, diǎncài
  * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese verb **点餐 (diǎncān)**, which means "to order food." This guide covers everything a beginner needs to know, from the basic meaning and character breakdown to the cultural nuances of group dining versus modern app-based ordering in China. With practical examples and common phrases, you'll be able to confidently order your next meal in any Chinese-speaking environment.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** diǎn cān
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb-Object Phrase (Functions as a single verb)
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  * **Concise Definition:** To order a meal, typically by selecting items from a menu.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **点餐 (diǎncān)** is the fundamental, all-purpose term for ordering food. It's what you say to a waiter, what you do on a food delivery app, and the action you take when looking at a menu. It literally means "to select a meal" and is one of the most practical and high-frequency terms you'll learn for daily life in China.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **点 (diǎn):** This character's original meaning is a "dot" or "point." By extension, it means "to point at" or "to select/tick off" an item from a list. Think of pointing your finger at a menu item or ticking a checkbox next to it.
  * **餐 (cān):** This character means "meal" or "food." The top part (食) is a radical for "food," and the bottom part provides the sound. It refers to a