<p>Yup.</p>

<p>The typical phrase spoken when serving food is <code>qǐng màn yòng</code> (請慢用). It lliterally means "please eat slowly", but is better translated as "enjoy your meal", and serves the same function as the French <em>bon appétit</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-21T23:37:51.823Z
Is this actually used in everyday life?
Szabolcs
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-22T00:13:50.393Z
@Szabolcs it's actually used from servant to master, junior to senior, or host to guest on formal occasions. It is not used in informal situations, between friends or between peers.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-22T00:22:41.637Z
@NS.X. Would you hear it at a restaurant?
Szabolcs
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-22T01:08:22.117Z
@Szabolcs Yes you'll hear it from waiter to customers.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-21T22:31:23.900Z
2014-06-21T22:38:20.643Z
2014-06-21T22:38:20.643Z
Semaphore
<p>Like Semaphore said 请慢用 is good for very formal circumstances.</p>

<p>In less formal circumstances you can say something like 慢慢吃 - which basically has the same meaning. This can also be used among family and friends.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-22T04:40:55.143Z
2014-06-22T04:40:55.143Z
Mou某
<p>In European languages there's a phrase you can say when you or a waiter serves food. For example,</p>

<pre><code>- bon appetit (French/English)
- buen provecho (Spanish)
</code></pre>

<p>Does Chinese have a similar phrase?</p>

<food><equivalent-phrase>
Equivalent phrase to "Bon Appetit"/"Enjoy (your food)"
# Equivalent phrase to "Bon Appetit"/"Enjoy (your food)"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-21)

In European languages there's a phrase you can say when you or a waiter serves food. For example,
- bon appetit (French/English)
- buen provecho (Spanish)

Does Chinese have a similar phrase?

**Tags:** food, equivalent-phrase


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-21. Score: 13

Yup.

The typical phrase spoken when serving food is `qǐng màn yòng` (請慢用). It lliterally means "please eat slowly", but is better translated as "enjoy your meal", and serves the same function as the French *bon appétit*.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Is this actually used in everyday life?  
> **username_3**: @username_2 it's actually used from servant to master, junior to senior, or host to guest on formal occasions. It is not used in informal situations, between friends or between peers.  
> **username_2**: @username_3 Would you hear it at a restaurant?  
> **username_3**: @username_2 Yes you'll hear it from waiter to customers.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-06-22. Score: 11

Like username_1 said 请慢用 is good for very formal circumstances.

In less formal circumstances you can say something like 慢慢吃 - which basically has the same meaning. This can also be used among family and friends.


---

