Mandarin Chinese reference
点菜
diǎncài
to order (food)
Verb pattern · 10 form tables
Mandarin verbs do not change for tense. These tables show aspect, negation, questions and sentence patterns. Short phrases omit the subject; full examples retain theirs.
Audio requires a compatible voice in your browser.
Aspect
Plain statement
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | diǎncàiorder |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | diǎn le càiordered |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | diǎn guo càihave ordered before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài diǎncàibe ordering |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào diǎncài lebe about to order |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì diǎncàiwill order |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bù diǎncàido not order |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi diǎncàidid not order |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | diǎncài ma?do you order? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | diǎn bu diǎn cài?do you order? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.