main course; Western food
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
main course; major dish in a banquet
In traditional Chinese banquet settings, this refers to substantial dishes served later in the meal, often featuring whole poultry, large cuts of meat, or other impressive presentations.
The banquet concluded with several main courses, including a whole chicken and a pork knuckle.
The main courses at this restaurant's wedding banquets are very distinctive.
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In the past, braised pork knuckle was a must-serve main course for festivals and holidays.
noun
Western food; Western-style cuisine
archaicAn older term used in China, particularly in the late Qing and early Republican periods, to refer to Western cuisine as a whole, contrasting with Chinese food.
My grandfather had Western food for the first time when he was young in Shanghai.
This Western restaurant was famous for serving authentic Western food even during the Republican era.
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"Eating da cai" was a fashionable way of saying "enjoying Western food" in the past.