<p>一頓饭 is one meal whereas 一道菜 is one course or one dish.</p>

<p>這頓豐富的晚餐共有十二道菜。 </p>

<p>This sumptuous dinner is made up of twelve courses.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T06:20:37.347Z
So sometimes one 頓 consists of 12 courses 道?
coobit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T06:23:16.807Z
@coobit There isn't any relationship like that. One 顿 can consists of any number of courses.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T17:39:26.237Z
Yes, a very formal banquet dinner (wedding, birthday ... etc.) typically consists of 12 courses and way too much food, IMO.
monalisa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-03T13:32:26.223Z
2017-09-03T13:32:26.223Z
monalisa
<p>一道饭 is a wrong expression. It should be 一道菜.</p>

<p>Both 顿 and 道 can be measure words. For example,</p>

<p>顿: 一顿饭，打一顿，揍一顿...</p>

<p>道：一道菜，一道题目，一道伤疤...</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-03T11:30:58.437Z
2017-09-03T11:30:58.437Z
dan
<p>What's the difference between 顿 and 道 as a measure word for meals? What each measure word stresses?</p>

<ol>
<li>吃了一顿饭</li>
<li>吃了一道饭</li>
</ol>

<p>Looks like 顿 used to mean 点头 diǎntóu or 鞠躬 jūgōng. If it's so, then presenting "a dish" with a 鞠躬 makes some sence and can explain why 顿 started to be used as a measure word for this type of thing.</p>

<p>But 道 as far as I know is used for crooked thinks like roads and lightnings. Can 道 be used as "a round" like in boxing. "Next round of meals"...</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-03T13:49:59.927Z
see dictionary, e.g.bkrs：   **顿**   classifier for meals, beatings, scoldings etc: 挨了一顿骂 get a scolding
说了他一顿 give him a dressing-down
一天三顿饭 three meals a day 
  **道**  classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process
(old) administrative division (similar to province in Tang times)
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T06:12:03.167Z
I know what dictionary says. But simply by looking at the dictionary datum I can't see why there are 2 measure words for MEALS. 
Is there etymological connection between 顿 as a meal and 顿 as a conflict.
coobit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T06:13:25.297Z
顿 - looks like a bud + a head = maybe it's a swelling on the forehead after deep bow? Maybe it's how 顿 got it "measure word for conflict meaning"?
coobit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T06:40:57.967Z
I am not quite sure the etymology of 顿 as a meal. My guess will be that 顿 can mean 'Pause' and 'sudden', so meals are separated with Pauses.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T07:17:15.797Z
I thought meals should be separated with deep bows... :) You know, like those meals in the Emperor Palace.
coobit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-04T13:10:41.040Z
reply to #2: dictionary: measure word/CL for meal 顿, CL for course in a meal 道, answers say the same, people knowing what (this) dictionary says, know that that there are not 2 measure words for meals, only one for meal and another one for course in a meal. If there is a problem telling the difference between "meal" and "course in a meal" answers were accepted w/o explaining the difference.
user6065
<measure-word>
What's the difference between 顿 and 道 as a measure word for meals?
# What's the difference between 顿 and 道 as a measure word for meals?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-03)

What's the difference between 顿 and 道 as a measure word for meals? What each measure word stresses?

1. 吃了一顿饭
2. 吃了一道饭

Looks like 顿 used to mean 点头 diǎntóu or 鞠躬 jūgōng. If it's so, then presenting "a dish" with a 鞠躬 makes some sence and can explain why 顿 started to be used as a measure word for this type of thing.

But 道 as far as I know is used for crooked thinks like roads and lightnings. Can 道 be used as "a round" like in boxing. "Next round of meals"...

**Tags:** measure-word
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: see dictionary, e.g.bkrs：   **顿**   classifier for meals, beatings, scoldings etc: 挨了一顿骂 get a scolding 说了他一顿 give him a dressing-down 一天三顿饭 three meals a day    **道**  classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process (old) administrative division (similar to province in Tang times)  
> **username_0**: I know what dictionary says. But simply by looking at the dictionary datum I can't see why there are 2 measure words for MEALS.  Is there etymological connection between 顿 as a meal and 顿 as a conflict.  
> **username_0**: 顿 - looks like a bud + a head = maybe it's a swelling on the forehead after deep bow? Maybe it's how 顿 got it "measure word for conflict meaning"?  
> **username_2**: I am not quite sure the etymology of 顿 as a meal. My guess will be that 顿 can mean 'Pause' and 'sudden', so meals are separated with Pauses.  
> **username_0**: I thought meals should be separated with deep bows... :) You know, like those meals in the Emperor Palace.  
> **username_1**: reply to #2: dictionary: measure word/CL for meal 顿, CL for course in a meal 道, answers say the same, people knowing what (this) dictionary says, know that that there are not 2 measure words for meals, only one for meal and another one for course in a meal. If there is a problem telling the difference between "meal" and "course in a meal" answers were accepted w/o explaining the difference.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-09-03. Score: 6

一頓饭 is one meal whereas 一道菜 is one course or one dish.

這頓豐富的晚餐共有十二道菜。

This sumptuous dinner is made up of twelve courses.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So sometimes one 頓 consists of 12 courses 道?  
> **username_2**: @coobit There isn't any relationship like that. One 顿 can consists of any number of courses.  
> **username_3**: Yes, a very formal banquet dinner (wedding, birthday ... etc.) typically consists of 12 courses and way too much food, IMO.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-09-03. Score: 3

一道饭 is a wrong expression. It should be 一道菜.

Both 顿 and 道 can be measure words. For example,

顿: 一顿饭，打一顿，揍一顿...

道：一道菜，一道题目，一道伤疤...


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