How to Say “Family dinner” in Chinese
Relationships and family · HSK 2
"Family dinner" in Chinese is 家庭聚餐 (jiā tíng jù cān). 家庭聚餐 (jiātíng jùcān) is the 'dictionary' term, but Chinese families rarely say it at home; it sounds like a restaurant booking category. Day-to-day, people say 在家吃饭 (eat at home) or 一家人吃饭 (the whole family eats together).
Primary translation
家庭聚餐
jiā tíng jù cān
Variants by register
Formal
家庭聚餐
jiātíng jùcān
Casual
家里吃饭
jiālǐ chīfàn
When to use it
家庭聚餐 (jiātíng jùcān) is the 'dictionary' term, but Chinese families rarely say it at home; it sounds like a restaurant booking category. Day-to-day, people say 在家吃饭 (eat at home) or 一家人吃饭 (the whole family eats together). The big deal is 年夜饭 (niányèfàn); Chinese New Year's Eve dinner; the most important family meal of the year. At family meals, the eldest usually sits facing the door, younger members pour tea for elders, and you should wait for the elders to start eating. Never stick your chopsticks upright in rice; it resembles incense for the dead.
Example sentences
今晚有家庭聚餐，你能来吗？
Jīnwǎn yǒu jiātíng jùcān, nǐ néng lái ma?
There's a family dinner tonight, can you come?
每周日我们都一家人吃饭。
Měi zhōurì wǒmen dōu yì jiā rén chīfàn.
Every Sunday our whole family eats together.
年夜饭是最重要的家庭聚餐。
Niányèfàn shì zuì zhòngyào de jiātíng jùcān.
New Year's Eve dinner is the most important family dinner.