上错菜了。
Wrong dish.
حرفيًا: Up / wrong / dish / (particle for completed action)
Use this phrase immediately and politely to notify restaurant staff of a serving error.
في 15 ثانية
- Use it when the waiter brings the wrong food item.
- Combine with 'bù hǎo yì si' for a more polite tone.
- Works in both casual stalls and formal restaurants.
المعنى
This is exactly what you say when a waiter brings a plate to your table that you didn't actually order. It's a polite but direct way to point out a service mistake at a restaurant.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6At a busy noodle shop
不好意思，上错菜了。
Excuse me, the wrong dish was served.
In a formal business dinner
服务员，这道菜好像上错菜了。
Waiter, it seems the wrong dish was served here.
Texting a friend about a bad lunch
那家店太乱了，竟然上错菜了！
That place was so chaotic, they actually served the wrong dish!
خلفية ثقافية
In China's fast-paced 'mancan' (fast food) and street food culture, efficiency is king. Pointing out a mistake immediately is seen as helpful rather than complaining. It reflects the pragmatic nature of Chinese social interactions in service environments.
The 'Point and Say' Method
If your Chinese tones are shaky, just point clearly at the dish while saying the phrase. The context makes it 100% clear.
Don't wait!
In China, if you touch the food with your chopsticks, you've 'accepted' it. Say the phrase before you touch the dish!
في 15 ثانية
- Use it when the waiter brings the wrong food item.
- Combine with 'bù hǎo yì si' for a more polite tone.
- Works in both casual stalls and formal restaurants.
What It Means
上错菜了 is your go-to survival phrase for dining out. It literally translates to "served the wrong dish." The word 上 (shàng) here means to serve or bring out. 错 (cuò) means wrong or mistaken. When you put them together, you are telling the staff there has been a mix-up. It is a factual statement that gets the job done without being rude.
How To Use It
You usually say this the moment the plate touches the table. Don't wait until you've eaten half of it! Simply point to the dish and say the phrase. You can add a polite 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) at the beginning. This makes you sound like a polite local rather than a complaining tourist. It is a very functional, everyday expression.
When To Use It
Use this in any dining scenario. It works at fancy Michelin-starred spots and busy street stalls. If a waiter brings beef but you ordered tofu, this is the phrase. If the table next to you gets your spicy noodles, use it. It is also useful when checking the final bill. If you see an item you never ate, point and say it then too.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this if the dish is correct but tastes bad. That requires different vocabulary. Also, avoid using it if you simply changed your mind. If you ordered the chicken and got the chicken, it isn't a "wrong dish." Using it in non-food contexts is also a no-go. You wouldn't use this for a wrong email or a wrong turn while driving.
Cultural Background
In Chinese dining culture, speed is often prioritized over perfect silence. Busy restaurants can be loud and chaotic. Waiters are moving fast, and mistakes happen often. Most staff will appreciate the directness. They want to fix the error quickly to keep the table turning. There is no need for a long, dramatic apology from either side. Just point it out, get it swapped, and keep eating.
Common Variations
You might hear 这个不是我点的 (zhè ge bú shì wǒ diǎn de). This means "This isn't what I ordered." It is slightly more specific. You can also just say 上错了 (shàng cuò le) for short. If you want to be extra polite, add 请问 (qǐng wèn) at the start. This turns the statement into a gentle inquiry. Most people just stick to the standard version for efficiency.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The phrase is neutral and highly practical. It relies on the resultative verb construction 'verb + cuò' (do something wrongly). It is best used immediately upon the dish's arrival.
The 'Point and Say' Method
If your Chinese tones are shaky, just point clearly at the dish while saying the phrase. The context makes it 100% clear.
Don't wait!
In China, if you touch the food with your chopsticks, you've 'accepted' it. Say the phrase before you touch the dish!
The Freebie Secret
Sometimes, if a small side dish is 'shàng cuò le', the waiter might just tell you to keep it for free because it's too much trouble to take back!
أمثلة
6不好意思，上错菜了。
Excuse me, the wrong dish was served.
Adding 'bu hao yi si' makes the correction feel much softer.
服务员，这道菜好像上错菜了。
Waiter, it seems the wrong dish was served here.
Using 'hao xiang' (it seems) adds a layer of formal hesitation.
那家店太乱了，竟然上错菜了！
That place was so chaotic, they actually served the wrong dish!
Using 'jing ran' expresses surprise at the mistake.
虽然上错菜了，但看起来很好吃！
Even though it's the wrong dish, it looks delicious!
A lighthearted way to handle a mistake if you're feeling flexible.
等了半天，结果还上错菜了。
I waited forever, and then they still brought the wrong dish.
Expresses frustration about the service quality.
你看，是不是上错菜了？
Look, did they bring the wrong dish?
Asking for a second opinion before calling the waiter.
اختبر نفسك
The waiter brings fish, but you ordered shrimp. What do you say?
服务员，___。
You use 'shàng cuò cài le' to specifically address the service error.
Make the phrase more polite by adding a prefix.
___，上错菜了。
'Bù hǎo yì si' is the standard way to politely catch someone's attention for a correction.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'Wrong Dish' Corrections
Short and direct to the waiter.
上错了 (Shàng cuò le)
Standard polite correction.
上错菜了 (Shàng cuò cài le)
Very soft and indirect.
麻烦您，这道菜好像不是我们点的。
When to use 'Shàng cuò cài le'
Street Food Stall
Quickly pointing out a mix-up.
Family Dinner
Telling the waiter the kids' meal is wrong.
Business Lunch
Politely correcting a high-end server.
Checking the Bill
Pointing out items you didn't receive.
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNot at all! It is a neutral statement of fact. To be extra nice, just add 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) at the start.
No, this is only for the wrong item. For cold food, you would say 菜凉了 (cài liáng le).
You can say 我没点这个 (wǒ méi diǎn zhè ge). It means the same thing in a restaurant context.
Yes, the 了 (le) indicates a change in situation or that the action of serving the wrong dish has occurred.
Yes, you can just say 上错了 (shàng cuò le). It's very common in casual settings.
You can say 这是别桌的吧？ (zhè shì bié zhuō de ba?), which means 'Is this for another table?'
The waiter will usually apologize, take the dish away, and check your original order.
Technically 菜 refers to food dishes, but in a restaurant, people use it broadly. For a drink, you could say 水上错了 (shuǐ shàng cuò le).
Yes, it is standard Mandarin used all across China, including the south and Taiwan.
You can show them your order receipt and say 你看，我点的是... (nǐ kàn, wǒ diǎn de shì...) followed by your dish name.
عبارات ذات صلة
我没点这个
I didn't order this.
买单
Check, please / Pay the bill.
服务员
Waiter / Waitress.
等很久了
I've been waiting for a long time.
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