食堂 shítáng dining hall
dining hall; cafeteria
How to remember 食堂: 食 food + 堂 hall = dining hall.
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How it is used
- A dining hall or cafeteria, tied to an institution - school, factory, workplace.
- 学校食堂 (school cafeteria), 单位食堂 (workplace canteen), 去食堂吃饭 (go eat at the cafeteria).
- Distinct from 餐厅 (restaurant, a commercial dining venue you pay a market price at) - 食堂 is typically subsidized and institutional.
- Everyday vocabulary for students and employees.