[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":123},["ShallowReactive",2],{"phrases-mandarin-restaurant":3},{"_path":4,"_dir":5,"_draft":6,"_partial":6,"_locale":7,"title":8,"description":9,"language":10,"scenario":11,"cefrLevel":12,"intro":13,"phrases":14,"regional_notes":85,"faqs":98,"body":111,"_type":117,"_id":118,"_source":119,"_file":120,"_stem":121,"_extension":122},"\u002Fmandarin\u002Fphrases\u002Frestaurant","phrases",false,"","Mandarin Restaurant Phrases: Ordering, Menus, and Bill Conventions","Mandarin Chinese phrases for restaurants: reservations, ordering, menu vocabulary, asking for the bill, dietary requests. Regional notes for mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.","mandarin","restaurant","A1-A2","Chinese restaurant culture varies enormously across the Mandarin-speaking world. Mainland China has shifted to QR-code ordering at the table at most chain and mid-tier restaurants; Taiwan still mostly uses paper menus; Hong Kong and Singapore are hybrid. These phrases cover the universal interactions and flag the regional variations. Most Chinese restaurants in tourist zones now provide some English menu support, but the off-tourist neighbourhood spots remain Chinese-only and that is where the food tends to be better.",[15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55,60,65,70,75,80],{"en":16,"target":17,"pronunciation":18,"notes":19},"A table for two, please.","Liǎng ge rén. (两个人.)","liǎng ge rén","Literally 'two people'. Standard Chinese restaurant entry phrase. Larger groups: sān ge rén (3), sì ge rén (4), wǔ ge rén (5). At busy mainland Chinese restaurants you may take a number tag (pái hào) at the door and wait; staff will call your number when a table is free.",{"en":21,"target":22,"pronunciation":23,"notes":24},"Do you have a reservation?","Nín yǒu yùdìng ma? (您有预订吗?)","nín yǒu yùdìng ma","What the host will ask, in formal register using 'nín' (formal you). Reservations are recommended for dinner at proper restaurants in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei and other major cities; many mainland Chinese restaurants now require reservations through the Dianping app rather than by phone.",{"en":26,"target":27,"pronunciation":28,"notes":29},"The menu, please.","Qǐng gěi wǒ càidān. (请给我菜单.)","qǐng gěi wǒ càidān","'Càidān' (菜单) is the menu. At mainland Chinese mid-tier and chain restaurants the càidān is increasingly accessed by scanning a QR code at the table (sǎomǎ diǎncān, 扫码点餐); ask the server if you need a paper menu instead: 'Yǒu zhǐzhì càidān ma?' (有纸质菜单吗?).",{"en":31,"target":32,"pronunciation":33,"notes":34},"Do you have an English menu?","Yǒu yīngwén càidān ma? (有英文菜单吗?)","yǒu yīngwén càidān ma","Available at tourist-zone restaurants in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei and Singapore. Outside these zones, English menus are uncommon and the answer is often to point at photos (Chinese menus are typically illustrated), translate via app, or use the picture-translation feature on a phone.",{"en":36,"target":37,"pronunciation":38,"notes":39},"What do you recommend?","Nǐ tuījiàn shénme? (你推荐什么?)","nǐ tuījiàn shénme","Polite question; the server will typically point you at the day's specials or a dish the kitchen is known for. The Chinese restaurant equivalent of the daily special is the 'tuījiàn cài' (推荐菜, recommended dishes), often a separate menu page.",{"en":41,"target":42,"pronunciation":43,"notes":44},"I would like...","Wǒ yào... (我要...)","wǒ yào","Standard ordering verb. Followed by the dish name, e.g. 'wǒ yào chǎomiàn' (我要炒面, I want fried noodles). The polite alternative 'wǒ xiǎng yào' (我想要, I would like) is used less often than the equivalent English politeness; 'wǒ yào' is the expected register at most restaurants.",{"en":46,"target":47,"pronunciation":48,"notes":49},"I am vegetarian.","Wǒ chī sù. (我吃素.)","wǒ chī sù","Literally 'I eat vegetarian'. Critical phrase because Chinese cooking widely uses broth, lard, and small meat additions that Western vegetarians might miss. To clarify strictly: 'wǒ bù chī ròu' (我不吃肉, I do not eat meat). Vegan is harder; the closest is 'wǒ chī quán sù' (我吃全素, I eat full vegetarian) but be specific about eggs and dairy if you want to be sure: 'wǒ bù chī dàn hé nǎizhìpǐn' (我不吃蛋和奶制品).",{"en":51,"target":52,"pronunciation":53,"notes":54},"I am allergic to...","Wǒ duì... guòmǐn. (我对...过敏.)","wǒ duì... guòmǐn","Critical for any dietary requirement. Common: huāshēng (花生, peanuts), hǎixiān (海鲜, seafood), niúnǎi (牛奶, milk), miànfěn (面粉, wheat flour, gluten), jīdàn (鸡蛋, eggs). Mainland Chinese restaurant staff have variable allergen awareness; for severe allergies, write the allergen on paper in Chinese characters before ordering.",{"en":56,"target":57,"pronunciation":58,"notes":59},"Could I have a beer?","Lái yì píng píjiǔ. (来一瓶啤酒.)","lái yì píng píjiǔ","Literally 'come one bottle beer'. Standard casual ordering pattern at Chinese restaurants. Note the tone sandhi: yī (一, one) becomes yì before a second-tone syllable. Domestic mainland Chinese beers (Tsingtao, Snow, Yanjing) are light lagers usually served chilled at proper restaurants and tepid at small spots; specify 'bīng de' (冰的, cold) if temperature matters. Taiwan and Hong Kong have wider craft beer scenes.",{"en":61,"target":62,"pronunciation":63,"notes":64},"Could you bring water?","Qǐng gěi wǒ bēi shuǐ. (请给我杯水.)","qǐng gěi wǒ bēi shuǐ","Chinese restaurant water is typically served hot or warm by default ('rè shuǐ', 热水, hot water), traditionally for digestive reasons. If you want cold water: 'liáng shuǐ' (凉水) or 'bīng shuǐ' (冰水, ice water); cold water is increasingly available at modern restaurants but not universal. Tea ('chá', 茶) is often served free as a welcome drink. Tap water is not safe to drink in mainland China; bottled water at restaurants is universal.",{"en":66,"target":67,"pronunciation":68,"notes":69},"It is too spicy.","Tài là le. (太辣了.)","tài là le","Useful warning to give the kitchen before ordering at Sichuan and Hunan restaurants. To request less spice: 'shǎo fàng làjiāo' (少放辣椒, put less chilli) or 'bú yào là' (不要辣, no spice; bù changes to bú before a fourth-tone syllable). 'Wēi là' (微辣, mild) is the lightest tier on most Sichuan menus and is still meaningful spice for non-conditioned palates.",{"en":71,"target":72,"pronunciation":73,"notes":74},"The bill, please.","Mǎi dān! (买单!)","mǎi dān","Literally 'buy bill', the universal mainland Chinese phrase to request the bill, shouted across the restaurant at any volume considered normal. Hong Kong \u002F Cantonese-influenced: 'maai daan' (same characters, Cantonese pronunciation). Taiwan: 'jié zhàng' (结账) is more standard than 'mǎi dān'. All variants are understood across the Mandarin-speaking world.",{"en":76,"target":77,"pronunciation":78,"notes":79},"Can I pay by phone?","Kěyǐ yòng shǒujī fùkuǎn ma? (可以用手机付款吗?)","kéyǐ yòng shǒujī fùkuǎn ma","Note the tone sandhi: when two third-tone syllables meet (kě + yǐ), the first becomes second-tone; the underlying form is kěyǐ but it sounds kéyǐ. Mainland China is functionally cashless at restaurants since 2018; WeChat Pay and Alipay are the only accepted payment methods at most spots, including high-end restaurants. Foreign credit cards are typically NOT accepted at mainland Chinese restaurants below upmarket international hotels. Setting up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card or passport via the 'Tour Pass' option is now functional for short-stay visitors. Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore accept international credit cards widely; cash is still common in Taiwan.",{"en":81,"target":82,"pronunciation":83,"notes":84},"Could I have a fork instead of chopsticks?","Kěyǐ gěi wǒ chāzi ma? (可以给我叉子吗?)","kéyǐ géi wǒ chāzi ma","Chopsticks are universal at Chinese restaurants but forks are typically available on request, especially in tourist-zone, international-tier and Hong Kong establishments. 'Chāzi' (叉子) is fork; 'sháozi' (勺子) is spoon. Asking for either is not rude; Chinese servers expect that foreign guests may not have chopstick skills.",[86,89,92,95],{"region":87,"note":88},"Mainland China","Mainland Chinese restaurant culture is increasingly app-mediated. QR-code menu ordering at the table is now standard at chain and mid-tier restaurants in tier-one cities; you scan, browse, order and pay all via WeChat or Alipay mini-programs without speaking to a server. Independent small restaurants and high-end establishments still use paper menus. Payment is functionally cashless: WeChat Pay and Alipay are required for almost all transactions. Foreign credit cards are not widely accepted below five-star hotel restaurants; setting up Alipay International or WeChat Pay with a foreign card via the Tour Pass is functional for short visits. Tipping is not customary and can occasionally cause confusion at small spots. Hot tea is served free as a welcome drink at most Chinese restaurants. Tap water is not safe to drink; the default served water is boiled hot water ('rè shuǐ').",{"region":90,"note":91},"Taiwan","Taiwanese restaurants are typically less app-mediated than mainland; paper menus remain standard at neighbourhood spots, with English versions increasingly available in Taipei tourist zones. Payment accepts both international credit cards and the Taiwan-specific mobile payment systems (LINE Pay, JKO, Pi). Cash is still common at street food and small restaurants. Tipping is not customary at Taiwanese restaurants; service charge is sometimes added at upmarket establishments. Taiwanese restaurant tea culture is distinct from mainland: at hotpot and Taiwanese-style restaurants, tea is often served free; at standalone tea houses, the tea is the main event. Tap water is generally safe in Taipei and other major Taiwanese cities.",{"region":93,"note":94},"Hong Kong","Hong Kong restaurants are bilingual at all upmarket and tourist-zone establishments; Cantonese is the dominant local language but Mandarin and English are both widely understood in restaurant service. Payment accepts international credit cards universally; Octopus card (the city's transit card) is also accepted at many restaurants and chain food courts. Service charge of 10 percent is almost always added at sit-down restaurants and the bill notes this; additional tipping is not expected beyond rounding up. Tap water is safe to drink in Hong Kong; bottled water at restaurants is usually a paid extra. Dim sum culture (yum cha) operates on different rules from regular ordering, with rolling trolleys at traditional spots and order cards at modern ones.",{"region":96,"note":97},"Singapore","Singaporean restaurants operate in English by default; Mandarin is supplementary rather than necessary for most restaurant interactions. Payment accepts international credit cards, PayNow (the local instant payment system) and cash widely. Service charge of 10 percent is universally added at sit-down restaurants along with 9 percent GST; the menu prices listed are often the pre-charge amount. Singaporean hawker centres operate by a separate set of conventions: you order at the stall, often pay cash, and find your own table; tipping is not customary and not expected at hawker centres. Tap water is safe to drink across Singapore.",[99,102,105,108],{"q":100,"a":101},"How do I pay at a mainland Chinese restaurant if I do not have WeChat Pay or Alipay?","Three options, in increasing inconvenience. First, ask the restaurant if it accepts credit cards: 'kéyǐ shuākǎ ma?' (可以刷卡吗?). Upmarket restaurants in tier-one cities accept Visa and Mastercard; mid-tier and small restaurants typically do not. Second, set up the foreign-tourist version of Alipay (Tour Pass) or WeChat Pay International, which links to a foreign card and is functional at almost all merchants since 2024. Third, carry cash; most restaurants still accept paper money but the staff may be unfamiliar with making change and the transaction is awkward. The first option is increasingly viable in Beijing, Shanghai and other tier-one cities; the second is the most reliable. Carry some cash as a backup.",{"q":103,"a":104},"Is tipping expected at Chinese restaurants?","No. Tipping is not customary anywhere in the mainland Chinese, Taiwanese or Singaporean restaurant scene; service charge of 10 percent is automatically added in Hong Kong and Singapore and that is considered sufficient. Attempting to leave cash tips at mainland Chinese restaurants can occasionally cause confusion or the server returning the money; this is not refusal of generosity but unfamiliarity with the convention. The exceptions are high-end international hotel restaurants where tipping conventions follow Western norms with the explicit framing of foreign guests.",{"q":106,"a":107},"How do I tell the kitchen to make the dish less spicy?","Three useful phrases at increasing levels of caution. 'Shǎo fàng làjiāo' (少放辣椒, less chilli) for moderate reduction. 'Wēi là' (微辣, mild) requests the lowest tier on the restaurant's spice scale at Sichuan and Hunan restaurants; note that wēi là is still meaningfully spicy by non-conditioned standards. 'Bú yào là' (不要辣, no spice; bù changes to bú before a fourth-tone syllable) requests no chilli at all, though Sichuan kitchens may add some on principle. For severe spice sensitivity, write a note on paper in Chinese characters before ordering and ask the server to take it to the kitchen.",{"q":109,"a":110},"What is the difference between 'càidān' and 'tuījiàn cài'?","'Càidān' (菜单) is the menu, the full list of dishes the kitchen offers. 'Tuījiàn cài' (推荐菜) is the recommended dishes, often the kitchen's specialities or the items the restaurant is known for, typically displayed as a separate menu page or marked with a star or photo. Ordering from the tuījiàn cài is the lazy guest's path to a good meal; the dishes there are what the restaurant wants to be judged by. At regional specialty restaurants the tuījiàn cài often features the dishes the city or region is famous for; ordering from it at a Sichuan restaurant in Chengdu, for example, gets you the authentic local Sichuan menu rather than the cross-regional Chinese standards.",{"type":112,"children":113,"toc":114},"root",[],{"title":7,"searchDepth":115,"depth":115,"links":116},2,[],"markdown","content:mandarin:phrases:restaurant.md","content","mandarin\u002Fphrases\u002Frestaurant.md","mandarin\u002Fphrases\u002Frestaurant","md",1780941685601]