Traditional Chinese - Café Seating and Ordering

我們 ___ 位，謝謝。

Wǒmen ___ wèi, xièxie.

A table for ___, please.

Meaning: 我們 ___ 位，謝謝。 (Wǒmen ___ wèi, xièxie.) means “A table for ___, please.”

When to use: Use this when you arrive and want to tell the host how many people are in your group.

Tip: Use 位 (wèi) for people politely in restaurants, not 個 (ge).

請問還有位子嗎？

Qǐngwèn hái yǒu wèizi ma?

Do you have a table available?

Meaning: 請問還有位子嗎？ (Qǐngwèn hái yǒu wèizi ma?) means “Do you have a table available?”

When to use: Use this when you walk into a busy café or restaurant and are not sure if there is seating.

Tip: 位子 (wèizi) is the natural spoken word for a seat or table spot in Taiwan.

可以看一下菜單嗎？

Kěyǐ kàn yíxià càidān ma?

Can I see the menu, please?

Meaning: 可以看一下菜單嗎？ (Kěyǐ kàn yíxià càidān ma?) means “Can I see the menu, please?”

When to use: Use this after being seated, or when you need a menu before ordering.

我想要 ___，謝謝。

Wǒ xiǎng yào ___, xièxie.

I'd like ___, please.

Meaning: 我想要 ___，謝謝。 (Wǒ xiǎng yào ___, xièxie.) means “I’d like ___, please.”

When to use: Use this to order food or drinks politely.

___ 可以不要加 ___ 嗎？

___ kěyǐ bú yào jiā ___ ma?

Can I get ___ without ___?

Meaning: ___ 可以不要加 ___ 嗎？ (___ kěyǐ bú yào jiā ___ ma?) means “Can I get ___ without ___?”

When to use: Use this when you want to remove an ingredient, topping, ice, sugar, or sauce.

Tip: Put the item first, then 可以不要加 (kěyǐ bú yào jiā), then the thing you do not want.

這道菜會辣嗎

Zhè dào cài huì là ma?

Is this dish spicy?

Meaning: 這道菜會辣嗎？ (Zhè dào cài huì là ma?) means “Is this dish spicy?”

When to use: Use this before ordering if you want to check the spice level.

可以給我們一點水嗎？

Kěyǐ gěi wǒmen yìdiǎn shuǐ ma?

Could we have some water, please?

Meaning: 可以給我們一點水嗎？ (Kěyǐ gěi wǒmen yìdiǎn shuǐ ma?) means “Could we have some water, please?”

When to use: Use this at the table when asking the server for water.

我們可以點餐了。

Wǒmen kěyǐ diǎncān le.

We're ready to order.

Meaning: 我們可以點餐了。 (Wǒmen kěyǐ diǎncān le.) means “We’re ready to order.”

When to use: Use this when you want to let the server know your table is ready.

可以分開結帳嗎？

Kěyǐ fēnkāi jiézhàng ma?

Can we pay separately?

Meaning: 可以分開結帳嗎？ (Kěyǐ fēnkāi jiézhàng ma?) means “Can we pay separately?”

When to use: Use this when paying and you want separate bills or separate payments.

我們有訂位，名字是___。

Wǒmen yǒu dìngwèi, míngzi shì ___.

We have a reservation under ___.

Meaning: 我們有訂位，名字是___。 (Wǒmen yǒu dìngwèi, míngzi shì ___.) means “We have a reservation under ___.”

When to use: Use this at the entrance when you booked a table ahead of time.

大概要等多久

Dàgài yào děng duōjiǔ?

How long is the wait?

Meaning: 大概要等多久？ (Dàgài yào děng duōjiǔ?) means “How long is the wait?”

When to use: Use this when the restaurant is full and you want to know the waiting time.

我們可以坐外面嗎？

Wǒmen kěyǐ zuò wàimiàn ma?

Can we sit outside?

Meaning: 我們可以坐外面嗎？ (Wǒmen kěyǐ zuò wàimiàn ma?) means “Can we sit outside?”

When to use: Use this when you prefer outdoor seating or patio seating.

我要___

Wǒ yào ___.

I'll have the ___.

Meaning: 我要___。 (Wǒ yào ___.) means “I’ll have the ___.”

When to use: Use this for a simple, direct order. For a softer tone, use 我想要 ___，謝謝。 (Wǒ xiǎng yào ___, xièxie.)