不好吃。
Not tasty.
字面意思: Not + good + eat
Use it to honestly describe bad food with friends, but avoid it when someone cooks for you personally.
15秒了解
- The most direct way to say food tastes bad.
- Literally translates to 'not good to eat'.
- Best used in casual settings or at restaurants.
意思
This phrase is the most direct way to say food tastes bad or isn't delicious. It’s like saying 'yuck' or 'not good' when you're eating something you don't enjoy.
关键例句
3 / 6Trying a new snack at a night market
这个不好吃，别买了。
This isn't tasty, don't buy it.
A friend asks about a famous restaurant
那里的菜真的不好吃。
The food there is really not good.
In a formal business setting, being polite
这个菜对我来说有点不好吃。
This dish is a bit 'not tasty' for me.
文化背景
In Chinese culture, food is a primary love language, so criticizing a meal can be seen as criticizing the host. While the phrase is common in restaurants, it is often replaced by more indirect complaints in private settings to maintain social harmony. Interestingly, the phrase 'Have you eaten?' is a common greeting, showing how central 'eating' is to the language.
Food vs. Drink
Never use `不好吃` for soup, tea, or soda. For things you drink, you must use `不好喝` (not good to drink).
The 'Face' Rule
If a Chinese host asks 'Is it good?' and it's not, avoid `不好吃`. Say `还可以` (it's okay) to be polite.
15秒了解
- The most direct way to say food tastes bad.
- Literally translates to 'not good to eat'.
- Best used in casual settings or at restaurants.
What It Means
不好吃 is your go-to phrase for a bad meal. It is simple, blunt, and very common. The word 不 means 'not.' The word 好吃 means 'good to eat' or 'delicious.' Put them together and you have a clear thumbs-down for your taste buds. It covers everything from a burnt toast to a salty soup.
How To Use It
Use it just like an adjective in English. You can say it alone as a reaction. You can also put it after a noun. For example, 这个包子不好吃 means 'This bun is not tasty.' If you want to be extra clear, add 很 to say 很不好吃 (very not tasty). It is the ultimate survival phrase for picky eaters. Just point and shake your head.
When To Use It
You can use this with friends or family easily. Use it when you are trying street food together. Use it when you are deciding which restaurant to avoid. It is perfect for casual texting about a bad lunch. If a close friend asks for your honest opinion, use it. It is honest and gets straight to the point.
When NOT To Use It
Be careful using this at someone’s home. If your Chinese mother-in-law cooked, do not say this! It can sound quite rude or ungrateful. In a formal business dinner, avoid being this blunt. Instead of 不好吃, try saying the flavor is 'too strong.' Don't use it for drinks; use 不好喝 instead. Using the wrong one makes you sound a bit silly.
Cultural Background
Food is the heart of Chinese social life. People take pride in their local cuisine and home cooking. Because of this, being direct about bad food can be sensitive. In many regions, people prefer 'saving face' over being brutally honest. However, among the younger generation, being a 'foodie' means being honest. They will post 不好吃 on social media reviews without hesitation. It’s a balance between honesty and politeness.
Common Variations
You might hear 太难吃了, which means 'too hard to eat' or 'disgusting.' That is much stronger than 不好吃. If you want to be softer, say 一般般 (just so-so). For drinks like tea or coffee, always switch to 不好喝. If the food is just okay but not great, you can say 不太好吃. This adds a little 'not quite' cushion to your criticism.
使用说明
This is a neutral-to-informal phrase. It is perfectly acceptable in daily life but should be used with caution around hosts or elders to avoid causing offense.
Food vs. Drink
Never use `不好吃` for soup, tea, or soda. For things you drink, you must use `不好喝` (not good to drink).
The 'Face' Rule
If a Chinese host asks 'Is it good?' and it's not, avoid `不好吃`. Say `还可以` (it's okay) to be polite.
Add an Adverb
Add `有点` (yǒu diǎn) before it to say 'a little bit not tasty' to sound more natural and less aggressive.
例句
6这个不好吃，别买了。
This isn't tasty, don't buy it.
A helpful warning to a friend while shopping.
那里的菜真的不好吃。
The food there is really not good.
Giving an honest review of a place.
这个菜对我来说有点不好吃。
This dish is a bit 'not tasty' for me.
Adding 'for me' makes the criticism less objective and slightly softer.
我做的饭不好吃，呜呜。
The food I made isn't tasty, boohoo.
Self-deprecating humor about one's own cooking.
妈妈，这个不好吃，我不喜欢。
Mom, this doesn't taste good, I don't like it.
Direct and honest expression of dislike.
今天的午饭不好吃。
Today's lunch is not tasty.
A common shared complaint among peers.
自我测试
How do you tell your friend the noodles are not good?
这个面条 ___ 。
Since noodles are food you chew, '不好吃' is the correct term for 'not tasty'.
Choose the softest way to say the food isn't great.
我觉得这个 ___ 。
'不太' means 'not very' or 'not quite,' which makes the criticism sound more polite.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Honesty vs. Politeness Scale
Used with best friends or siblings.
太难吃了 (Disgusting)
Standard way to describe bad food.
不好吃 (Not tasty)
Softer way to express dislike.
不太习惯这个味道 (Not used to this taste)
Where to use 不好吃
Street Food Stall
Warning a friend
Online Review
Rating a restaurant
School Canteen
Complaining to classmates
Kitchen
Critiquing your own cooking
常见问题
10 个问题It literally means 'not good eat.' In Chinese, 好 (good) plus a verb like 吃 (eat) creates an adjective meaning 'delicious.'
No, you should use 不好喝 (bù hǎo hē) for liquids. 好吃 is strictly for solid food you chew.
It's not necessarily rude if you're talking to your companions. However, saying it loudly to a waiter might be seen as quite blunt.
You can use 太难吃了 (tài nán chī le). It literally means 'too difficult to eat' and is much stronger than 不好吃.
The opposite is 好吃 (hǎo chī), which means delicious or tasty.
It's a bit too casual for a formal email. If you're complaining to a catering company, try 菜品质量有待提高 (The food quality needs improvement).
Young people might say 很雷 (hěn léi), which means the food was a 'mine' or a total disaster.
Add 不太 (bù tài) before it. 不太好吃 means 'not very tasty,' which sounds much softer and more polite.
难吃 (nán chī) is just a shorter, slightly more negative way to say the same thing. It literally means 'hard to eat.'
Yes! Since medicine often has a bad flavor, you can say 药不好吃 or 药很难吃.
相关表达
不好喝
Not tasty (for drinks)
难吃
Tastes bad / Disgusting
一般般
Just so-so / Average
不太好
Not too good
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