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How to Say ‘What are the main dishes?’ in Simplified Chinese

主要有哪些菜?

zhǔ yào yǒu něi xiē cài

[zhǔyào yoh nǎxiē cài]

💬 Usage Tip: Use 哪些 (nǎ xiē) "which ones" when you expect more than one answer. Another example is 有哪些优惠? "What deals are there?"

Phrase Breakdown

主要

zhǔ yào

[zhǔyào]

main; mainly

Most important or principal.

Example

我主要吃米饭。

I mainly eat rice.

有哪些菜?

yǒu něi xiē cài

what dishes are there?

有 means 'there is/are' and 哪些 means 'which ones' (plural). 菜 means dishes. Because 有 and 哪 are both third tone, 有 rises.

Example

今天有哪些菜?

What dishes are there today?

Words in this phrase

有

yǒu

[yoh]

to have; there is

A basic verb meaning to possess or to indicate that something exists.

Example

这份工作有很多学习机会。

This job has many learning opportunities.

哪些

něi xiē

[nǎxiē]

which (plural)

Asks which ones among several.

Example

你喜欢哪些水果?

Which fruits do you like?

菜

cài

[cài]

dish

A prepared dish of food served at a meal.

Example

这个菜很辣。

This dish is very spicy.

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