Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 20 of 240

New here? This is lesson 20 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

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Eat here or take away in Traditional Chinese

At Banyan Breakfast, Maya first says she will eat at the shop. A-Li's tray is already crowded, and his soy milk is still unfinished.

Then Maya changes her mind and asks to take her food away. Practice simple counter requests for eating here, packing food, and paying.

Ask for an ingredient to be left out or put on the side. The situation is ordinary, even with A-Li's already-full tray.

By the end of this lesson

Say whether you will eat here or take food away, ask for a change, and ask to pay.

  • 內用Eat here.
  • 外帶Take away.
  • 不要加___Don't add ___.
  • 麻煩另外放Could you put it on the side?
  • 幫我打包Pack it up for me.
  • 可以結帳嗎？Can I pay now?

Scene — a change of plans

Morning light falls across the counter at Banyan Breakfast. Maya orders breakfast while Auntie Lin serves the next customer.

A-Li is at the back table, with his tray already full. His soy milk is still unfinished beside him.

Maya first plans to eat at the shop, then changes her mind and asks to take her order away.

Maya orders at the counter while Auntie Lin serves another customer and Ali sits at the back table beside his unfinished soy milk.

Learn — food counter requests

Learn how to say you will eat here or take food away. You can also ask for an ingredient to be left out or put on the side.

Listen to each short request, then try it aloud as if you were ordering at a breakfast shop.

  1. Maya gestures toward a place at the shop table to indicate she plans to eat there.

    內用

    Eat here.

    When to use it: Say this when you will eat your food at the shop.

  2. Maya turns from the dining area toward the counter and gestures for her order to be taken away.

    外帶

    Take away.

    When to use it: Say this when you want to take your food away.

  3. Maya raises a hand to stop Auntie Lin from adding chopped scallions to her food.

    不要加___

    Don't add ___.

    When to use it: Use this to ask the counter staff to leave out an ingredient.

    Learn it as one piece; the blank names an ingredient.

  4. Maya indicates a small separate dish beside her meal as Auntie Lin prepares the order.

    麻煩另外放

    Could you put it on the side?

    When to use it: Ask for an ingredient or sauce to be packed separately.

  5. Maya holds open a takeaway bag while Auntie Lin packs her meal into a container.

    幫我打包

    Pack it up for me.

    When to use it: Ask someone to pack your food to take away.

  6. Maya presents her payment card at the counter and asks to settle the bill.

    可以結帳嗎？

    Can I pay now?

    When to use it: Ask when you are ready to pay at the counter.

Story — Maya changes her order

Maya orders breakfast at Banyan Breakfast. She first chooses to eat there, but then notices A-Li's already crowded tray.

She changes her mind, asks for her order to go, and checks whether she can pay.

  1. Auntie Lin美女，內用還是外帶？Would you like to eat here or take it away, beautiful?
  2. Maya內用。Eat here.
  3. A-Li托盤快滿了，豆漿還沒喝完。My tray is almost full, and I still haven't finished my soy milk.
  4. Maya不要加蔥。Don't add scallions.
  5. Auntie Lin好喔。Okay.
  6. Maya不好意思，我要外帶。Excuse me, I want it to go.
  7. Auntie Lin好喔。Okay.
  8. Maya辣椒，麻煩另外放。Chili, could you put it on the side?
  9. Auntie Lin好喔。Okay.
  10. Maya幫我打包。Pack it up for me.
  11. Maya可以結帳嗎？謝謝。Can I pay now? Thank you.
  12. Counter staff好喔。Sure.

Practice — choose your counter words

Try nine quick exercises about ordering, packing food, and paying at the counter. Choose the line that fits each situation.

Some questions revisit familiar breakfast words. Read each explanation, then try saying the answer again.

0 of 9 done

  1. What does it mean?

    內用

  2. What do you say?

    The counter staff asks whether you will eat here or take your food away. Choose take away.

  3. Build the line

    Could you put it on the side?

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    Can I pay now?

    可以____嗎？

  5. What do you say?

    At the counter, say the taught phrase frame for asking that an ingredient not be added. Leave the ingredient blank.

  6. What did you hear?

  7. Pick the reply

    Auntie Lin says:

    還要別的嗎？

    Would you like anything else?

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    Can I pay now?

    ？

    Tap the words in order.

  9. What does it mean?

    謝謝

Say it — order and pay

You are Maya, ordering breakfast at Banyan Breakfast. Listen to each cue and say your response aloud.

Tell Auntie Lin how you want your food, then finish your order and ask to pay.

  1. Maya is at the counter, placing her breakfast order.
  2. Maya (you)Tell Auntie Lin you will eat here.

    內用

    Eat here.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
內用Eat here.
外帶Take away.
不要加___Don't add ___.
麻煩另外放Could you put it on the side?
幫我打包Pack it up for me.
可以結帳嗎？Can I pay now?
Next: lesson 21I want

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