Meaning and Usage
"外卖" (wàimài) primarily refers to food that is ordered from a restaurant and delivered to your location or picked up to eat elsewhere. It is commonly used in everyday conversation when talking about ordering meals without dining in.
Common Contexts
People use "外卖" when discussing meal options, especially when they don't want to cook or go out. It often appears in contexts involving mobile apps or phone calls for ordering food.
Collocations and Patterns
- 点外卖 (diǎn wàimài): to order takeout; very common phrase when using food delivery apps.
- 外卖服务 (wàimài fúwù): takeout/delivery service; refers to the system or business of delivering food.
- 叫外卖 (jiào wàimài): to call/order takeout; colloquial and widely used.
Usage Notes
"外卖" is informal and widely used in spoken Chinese. It differs from "外带" (wàidài), which means takeout but emphasizes carrying food away from the restaurant rather than delivery. Avoid confusing "外卖" with "卖外" which is not a standard phrase.
When using "外卖," the focus is on convenience and speed, often implying the food is delivered or ready for quick pickup.