Useful phrases
- 可以看一下菜单吗？ — kěyǐ kàn yíxià càidān ma? — Can I have a menu?
- 你们推荐什么？ — nǐmen tuījiàn shénme? — What do you recommend?
- 我想点这个。 — wǒ xiǎng diǎn zhège — I want to order this
- 这个辣吗？ — zhège là ma? — Is it spicy?
- 不要辣。 — bú yào là — No spicy please
- 少放一点辣。 — shǎo fàng yìdiǎn là — Less spicy, please
- 不要香菜。 — bú yào xiāngcài — No cilantro
- 我对坚果过敏。 — wǒ duì jiānguǒ guòmǐn — I am allergic to nuts
- 请给我一杯水。 — qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ — Please give me some water
- 可以打包吗？ — kěyǐ dǎbāo ma? — Can I pack it with me?
- 买单，谢谢。 — mǎidān, xièxie — The check, please
- 可以用微信支付吗？ — kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn zhīfù ma? — Can I pay via WeChat?
Mini dialogue
- 你好，几位？ — nǐ hǎo, jǐ wèi? — Hello, how many of you are there?
- 两位。可以看一下菜单吗？ — liǎng wèi. kěyǐ kàn yíxià càidān ma? — Two. I'd like to see the menu.
- 可以。这是菜单。 — kěyǐ. zhè shì càidān. — Certainly. Here's the menu.
- 你们推荐什么？ — nǐmen tuījiàn shénme? — What do you recommend?
- 这个鱼很好吃。 — zhège yú hěn hǎochī. — This fish is very tasty.
- 好，我想点这个。不要辣。 — hǎo, wǒ xiǎng diǎn zhège. bú yào là. — Okay, I want to order this. No spicy.
- 好的。 — hǎo de. — Fine.
- 买单，谢谢。可以用微信支付吗？ — mǎidān, xièxie. kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn zhīfù ma? — The check, please. Can I pay via WeChat?
- 可以。 — kěyǐ. — Yes, you can.
Key words
- 餐厅 — cāntīng — restaurant
- 菜单 — càidān — menu
- 服务员 — fúwùyuán — waiter/employee
- 点菜 — diǎn cài — order food
- 菜 — cài — dish
- 推荐 — tuījiàn — recommendation
- 米饭 — mǐfàn — rice
- 面条 — miàntiáo — noodles
- 肉 — ròu — meat
- 鱼 — yú — fish
- 蔬菜 — shūcài — vegetables
- 水 — shuǐ — water
- 茶 — chá — tea
- 筷子 — kuàizi — chopsticks
- 辣 — là — spicy
- 过敏 — guòmǐn — allergy
Cultural hint
In China, people usually ask for the bill with 买单 (mǎidān - “ask for the bill / pay”) or 结账 (jiézhàng - “settle the bill”), not with the separate word 账单 (zhàngdān - “bill”). Ordering and payment often happen through a QR code on the table, but basic phrases are still useful.
It is also normal to call a waiter with a small gesture or a short 服务员 (fúwùyuán - “waiter / staff member”). This is not rude; it is common practice in a noisy cafe or restaurant.
