Dining & Ordering — Practical Mandarin Phrases

Seating

Q: A table for two, please.

A: This way, please.

Qǐng gěi wǒmen yì zhāng liǎngrén de zhuōzi. Qǐng zhè biān zǒu.

Qǐng / pleasegěi / givewǒmen / usyì zhāng / one (table)liǎngrén / two-personde / ofzhuōzi / table

Qǐng / pleasezhè biān / this wayzǒu / walk

请给我们一张两人的桌子。请这边走。

Menus

Q: Do you have an English menu?

A: Yes, here you are.

Yǒu Yīngwén càidān ma? Yǒu de, qǐng kàn.

Yǒu / haveYīngwén / Englishcàidān / menuma / question

Yǒu de / yesqǐng / pleasekàn / look

有英文菜单吗？有的，请看。

Ordering

Q: What do you recommend?

A: The spicy chicken is very good.

Nǐ tuījiàn shénme cài? Làzǐ jī hěn hǎochī.

Nǐ / youtuījiàn / recommendshénme / whatcài / dish

Làzǐ jī / spicy chickenhěn / veryhǎochī / tasty

你推荐什么菜？辣子鸡很好吃。

Ingredients

Q: What’s in this dish?

A: It has beef and vegetables.

Zhège cài lǐ yǒu shénme? Yǒu niúròu hé shūcài.

Zhège / thiscài / dishlǐ / insideyǒu / haveshénme / what

Yǒu / haveniúròu / beefhé / andshūcài / vegetables

这个菜里有什么？有牛肉和蔬菜。

Drinks

Q: Can I have some tea, please?

A: Green tea or black tea?

Qǐng gěi wǒ yìxiē chá. Lǜchá háishì hóngchá?

Qǐng / pleasegěi / givewǒ / meyìxiē / somechá / tea

Lǜchá / green teaháishì / orhóngchá / black tea

请给我一些茶。绿茶还是红茶？

Preferences

Q: Please make it not spicy.

A: Okay, we’ll make it mild.

Qǐng búyào fàng là. Hǎo de, wǒmen zuò qīngdàn yìdiǎn.

Qǐng / pleasebúyào / don’tfàng / putlà / spicy

Hǎo de / okaywǒmen / wezuò / makeqīngdàn / mildyìdiǎn / a bit

请不要放辣。好的，我们做清淡一点。

Payments

Q: Could we have the bill, please?

A: Okay, I’ll bring it right away.

Qǐng gěi wǒmen zhàngdān. Hǎo de, wǒ mǎshàng ná lái.

Qǐng / pleasegěi / givewǒmen / uszhàngdān / bill

Hǎo de / okaywǒ / Imǎshàng / immediatelyná lái / bring

请给我们账单。好的，我马上拿来。

Payments

Q: Can I pay with WeChat?

A: Yes, just scan the code.

Wǒ kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn fù ma? Kěyǐ de, sǎo yí sǎo èrwéimǎ.

Wǒ / Ikěyǐ / canyòng / useWēixìn / WeChatfù / payma / question

Kěyǐ de / yessǎo yí sǎo / scanèrwéimǎ / QR code

我可以用微信付吗？可以的，扫一扫二维码。

Compliments

Q: The food is delicious!

A: Thank you very much!

Cài hěn hǎochī! Fēicháng gǎnxiè!

Cài / dishhěn / veryhǎochī / delicious

Fēicháng / verygǎnxiè / thank you

菜很好吃！非常感谢！

Takeaway

Q: Can I get this to go?

A: Sure, I’ll pack it for you.

Zhège kěyǐ dǎbāo ma? Kěyǐ, wǒ bāng nín dǎbāo.

Zhège / thiskěyǐ / candǎbāo / to-goma / question

Kěyǐ / canwǒ / Ibāng / helpnín / you (polite)dǎbāo / pack

这个可以打包吗？可以，我帮您打包。