Simplified Chinese - Cafe Restaurant

___位，谢谢。

___ wèi, xièxie.

A table for ___, please.

Meaning: A table for ___, please.

When to use: Use when you arrive and tell the host how many people are in your party. Replace ___ with a number word plus 位 (e.g. 两位).

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 人 instead of 位; 位 is the natural measure word for seats.

现在有位子吗

xiànzài yǒu wèizi ma?

Do you have a table available?

Meaning: Do you have a table available?

When to use: Ask the host or server when you’re not sure if there’s seating now. Useful at busy cafés and restaurants.

可以看一下菜单吗？

kěyǐ kàn yíxià càidān ma?

Can I see the menu, please?

Meaning: Can I see the menu, please?

When to use: Ask this when you want to look at the menu — at the table or at the counter. Polite and widely used.

我要___，谢谢。

wǒ yào ___, xièxie.

I'd like ___, please.

Meaning: I'd like ___, please.

When to use: Use to order a specific dish or drink; add 谢谢 to be polite. Replace ___ with the item name.

Tip: Some learners overuse 我想要; 我要 is fine and very common in spoken ordering.

___可以不要___吗？

___ kěyǐ bú yào ___ ma?

Can I get ___ without ___?

Meaning: Can I get ___ without ___?

When to use: Use to ask for an item without a certain ingredient or option (e.g. 不要辣、不要洋葱). Keep phrasing polite with 可以...吗？

Tip: Don’t put 不要 after the item only; the natural polite question is 'X 可以不要 Y 吗？'.

这道菜辣吗

zhè dào cài là ma?

Is this dish spicy?

Meaning: Is this dish spicy?

When to use: Ask about a menu item you think might be spicy. Use this before ordering if you avoid spicy food.

可以给我们来点水吗？

kěyǐ gěi wǒmen lái diǎn shuǐ ma?

Could we have some water, please?

Meaning: Could we have some water, please?

When to use: Ask your server for water or other simple table items. Use when refilling drinks or asking for tap water.

我们可以点菜了。

wǒmen kěyǐ diǎn cài le.

We're ready to order.

Meaning: We're ready to order.

When to use: Say this to the server when your group is prepared for ordering. It signals the server to take your order.

可以分开结账吗？

kěyǐ fēnkāi jiézhàng ma?

Can we pay separately?

Meaning: Can we pay separately?

When to use: Ask when you want each person to pay their own bill. You can also say 分开付 as an alternative.

我们有预订，名字是___。

Wǒmen yǒu yùdìng, míngzi shì ___.

We have a reservation under ___.

Meaning: We have a reservation under ___.

When to use: Use when you come to the host stand and tell them the reservation name. Replace ___ with the surname or full name.

大概要等多久

Dàgài yào děng duō jiǔ?

How long is the wait?

Meaning: How long is the wait?

When to use: Ask this when there is no immediate table and you want an estimate of waiting time. Adding 请问 makes it more polite.

我们可以坐外面吗？

Wǒmen kěyǐ zuò wàimiàn ma?

Can we sit outside?

Meaning: Can we sit outside?

When to use: Use when you prefer outdoor seating. Polite to add 请问 at the start in formal places.

我要___

Wǒ yào ___.

I'll have the ___.

Meaning: I'll have the ___.

When to use: A common short way to order from the menu. Replace ___ with the dish name; adding 请 or 谢谢 makes it politer.

Tip: Beginners sometimes confuse 我要 and 我想要; both work, but 我要 is very natural in ordering.