How to Say "What would you like to eat" in Chinese (Mandarin): 你想吃什么？

The characters in 你想吃什么？

• 想

  To want, to think. 心 (heart) is at the bottom.

  13 strokes

• 吃

  To eat.

  6 strokes

想 is a soft "would like", gentler than 要 (yào, want). It's what a waiter or a parent asks.

More examples with 你想吃什么？

• 晚饭你想吃什么？

  晚飯你想吃什麼？

  Wǎnfàn nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?

  What would you like for dinner?

• 你想吃什么？我想吃包子。

  你想吃什麼？我想吃包子。

  Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme? Wǒ xiǎng chī bāozi.

  What would you like? I'd like a steamed bun.