Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 199 of 240

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Asking for a recommendation in Simplified Chinese

Maya is planning an outing with Yi-Jun, who has heard about a popular spot from a friend. The recommendation sounds promising, but Maya wants details before deciding.

At Banyan Breakfast, she asks Auntie Lin for advice too. Learn how to ask what is worth visiting, recommend a place, and ask about a signature dish.

Listen for the difference between asking for a recommendation and describing someone else's opinion. A-Li is nearby, still leaving his soy milk unfinished.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for and give recommendations about places and food, and ask what a restaurant is known for.

  • 你有推荐的吗？Do you have a recommendation?
  • 这家我很推荐I highly recommend this place.
  • 招牌菜是什么？What's the signature dish?
  • 哪一家最值得去？Which place is most worth visiting?
  • 你可以去问问看老板You could ask the owner.
  • 我朋友说不错My friend said it's good.

Scene — a local tip

Yi-Jun tells Maya that a friend has recommended a place. Maya likes the idea, but wants to know which spot is really worth a visit.

Later, she asks Auntie Lin at Banyan Breakfast for advice about food nearby. A-Li is at his usual table, with his soy milk still unfinished.

Wide morning view of Banyan Breakfast with Maya at the counter, Auntie Lin behind the trays, and A-Li the yak at his usual table with unfinished soy milk.

Learn — ask what is worth trying

These phrases help you ask for suggestions and share recommendations about places and food. Notice how you can ask what is worth visiting or ask about a shop's signature dish.

You can also report what a friend said, or suggest asking the owner for details.

  1. Maya leans over the breakfast counter toward Auntie Lin with one palm open, seeking a recommendation.

    你有推荐的吗？

    Do you have a recommendation?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want someone to suggest a place, food, or activity.

    The 的 phrase turns 推荐 into something being recommended.

  2. Auntie Lin stands in profile behind the counter and gestures toward the open shopfront as she recommends a nearby place.

    这家我很推荐

    I highly recommend this place.

    When to use it: Use this to recommend a place you know or like.

    Putting 这家 first makes the place the topic of your recommendation.

  3. Maya bends over a steaming plate on a breakfast tray and looks toward Auntie Lin about the signature dish.

    招牌菜是什么？

    What's the signature dish?

    When to use it: Ask this to find out which dish a restaurant is known for.

    招牌菜 refers to a restaurant's featured or best-known dish.

  4. On a shaded Taipei lane, Maya holds both hands out as if weighing two directions while Yi-Jun stands beside her.

    哪一家最值得去？

    Which place is most worth visiting?

    When to use it: Ask this when comparing places and deciding where to go.

    最值得 describes the option you think is most worthwhile.

  5. Auntie Lin has left the counter and points Maya down the lane from the open shopfront, toward a place whose owner could help.

    你可以去问问看老板

    You could ask the owner.

    When to use it: Suggest asking the owner when they can give more specific information.

    问问看 softens the suggestion by making it sound like a quick try.

  6. Yi-Jun walks a half-step ahead on the banyan lane and looks back with a confident nod toward a side alley, passing along a friend's good tip.

    我朋友说不错

    My friend said it's good.

    When to use it: Use this to pass on a positive opinion you heard from a friend.

    说 reports what someone said; 不错 is a modest positive description.

Story — two recommendations

Yi-Jun has heard about a place from a friend and gives Maya a recommendation. Maya wants to know which spot is best, so Yi-Jun points her toward the owner.

At the breakfast shop, Auntie Lin offers her own food recommendation. A-Li is there too, with his familiar unfinished drink.

  1. Yi-Jun我朋友说不错。My friend said it's good.
  2. Maya你有推荐的吗？Do you have a recommendation?
  3. Yi-Jun这家我很推荐。I highly recommend this place.
  4. Maya哪一家最值得去？Which place is most worth visiting?
  5. Yi-Jun我最喜欢的是这家。My favorite is this one.
  6. Yi-Jun你可以去问问看老板。You could ask the owner.
  7. Later, Maya asks Auntie Lin for a food recommendation at Banyan Breakfast.
  8. Maya招牌菜是什么？What's the signature dish?
  9. Auntie Lin蛋饼很多人都点。A lot of people order the egg pancake.
  10. Auntie Lin这家我很推荐。I highly recommend this place.
  11. Maya我朋友说不错。My friend said it's good.
  12. Auntie Lin我最喜欢的是这家。My favorite is this one.
  13. A-Li豆浆还没喝完。The soy milk still isn't finished.

Practice — find the better suggestion

Try eleven exercises to ask for recommendations, understand a suggestion, and pick out useful details about a place.

Some questions have similar topics, so listen closely to what each person is asking before you choose.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我朋友说不错

  2. What do you say?

    You are planning an outing with Yi-Jun and want her to suggest a place.

  3. Build the line

    I highly recommend this place.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    What's the signature dish?

    ____是什么？

  5. Match the pairs

    Simplified Chinese

    哪一家最值得去？Drop the English here
    你可以去问问看老板Drop the English here
    我朋友说不错Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Simplified Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  6. What did you hear?

  7. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    招牌菜是什么？

    What's the signature dish?

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    Replace the word for a suggestion with the word for a recommendation.

    你有____的吗？

  9. Pick the reply

    Yi-Jun says:

    哪一家最值得去？

    Which place is most worth visiting?

    And you reply with:

  10. What do you say?

    At a restaurant, ask the owner which dish the place is known for.

  11. What does it mean?

    有哪些景点值得去？

Say it — ask for your own recommendation

You play Maya and ask Yi-Jun and Auntie Lin for ideas about where to go and what to eat.

Listen to each cue, then say the best matching line out loud. Keep your questions clear and your recommendations friendly.

  1. Maya asks Yi-Jun for a local suggestion.
  2. Maya (you)Ask Yi-Jun whether she has a recommendation.

    你有推荐的吗？

    Do you have a recommendation?

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
你有推荐的吗？Do you have a recommendation?
这家我很推荐I highly recommend this place.
招牌菜是什么？What's the signature dish?
哪一家最值得去？Which place is most worth visiting?
你可以去问问看老板You could ask the owner.
我朋友说不错My friend said it's good.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's recommendation phrases are in Yak Cards with more useful lines for talking about food and places.

Review a few cards each day so you can ask for a recommendation naturally.

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