在餐厅点餐
Ordering food at a restaurant
Conversation
Waiter
您好！请问几位？
(Nín hǎo! Qǐngwèn jǐ wèi?)
Hello! How many people?
Customer 1
两位。
(Liǎng wèi.)
Two people.
Waiter
这边请。
(Zhè biān qǐng.)
This way, please.
Waiter
这是菜单。
(Zhè shì càidān.)
Here is the menu.
Customer 1
谢谢。
(Xièxie.)
Thank you.
Customer 2
我想吃面。
(Wǒ xiǎng chī miàn.)
I want to eat noodles.
Customer 1
我要一个米饭。
(Wǒ yào yí ge mǐfàn.)
I want one rice.
Waiter
好的。还要别的吗？
(Hǎo de. Hái yào bié de ma?)
Okay. Anything else?
Customer 2
不要了。谢谢。
(Bú yào le. Xièxie.)
No more. Thank you.
Waiter
好的，请稍等。
(Hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng.)
Okay, please wait a moment.
Customer 1
好的。
(Hǎo de.)
Okay.
Key Vocabulary
- 您好 (Nín hǎo) — Hello (polite)
- 几位 (jǐ wèi) — how many people (polite)
- 两位 (liǎng wèi) — two people (polite)
- 这边请 (zhè biān qǐng) — this way, please
- 菜单 (càidān) — menu
- 谢谢 (xièxie) — thank you
- 想吃 (xiǎng chī) — want to eat
- 面 (miàn) — noodles
- 米饭 (mǐfàn) — rice
- 还要别的吗 (hái yào bié de ma) — anything else?
- 请稍等 (qǐng shāo děng) — please wait a moment
Grammar Notes
Using '请 (qǐng)' for politeness
'请 (qǐng)' means 'please'. It's often used before a verb to make a request or invitation more polite.
Example: “请问 (qǐngwèn) – May I ask; 这边请 (zhè biān qǐng) – This way, please”
Numbers for people (位 'wèi')
When talking about the number of people, '位 (wèi)' is a polite measure word, especially used in service settings. '几 (jǐ)' is used for asking 'how many'.
Example: “几位 (jǐ wèi) – how many people?; 两位 (liǎng wèi) – two people”
Expressing Desire with '想 (xiǎng)' and '要 (yào)'
'想 (xiǎng)' means 'to want to' or 'to think', often followed by a verb. '要 (yào)' means 'to want' or 'to need', often followed by a noun or an action.
Example: “我想吃面 (Wǒ xiǎng chī miàn) – I want to eat noodles.; 我要一个米饭 (Wǒ yào yí ge mǐfàn) – I want one rice.”
