New here? This is lesson 81 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
Getting a table in Traditional Chinese
Maya brings Yi-Jun and two friends to a hot-pot restaurant for dinner. She has a reservation, but their table is not ready yet. Can she find out whether another table is available?
Learn to give the number in your group, state the name on a reservation, and ask about the wait.
Once everyone sits down, you can ask for water and let the staff know you are ready to order.
By the end of this lesson
Ask for a table, give your reservation name, ask about the wait, and get ready to order.
- 我們有四位We are four people.
- 請問還有位子嗎？Is there still a table available?
- 我們有訂位，名字是___We have a reservation under ___.
- 大概要等多久？About how long will the wait be?
- 可以給我們一點水嗎？Could we have some water?
- 我們可以點餐了We're ready to order.
Scene — an evening at the hot-pot restaurant
It is a busy evening at a hot-pot restaurant in Taipei. Maya arrives with Yi-Jun and two friends, making a group of four.
Their reservation is on the staff member's list, but their table is still being prepared.
Maya handles the conversation while the others wait beside her.
Learn — tables, reservations, and waiting
These six lines take you from the entrance to the table. Listen for how Maya speaks to the staff, then say each line aloud.
One line has a blank for the name on your reservation.
我們有四位
We are four people.
When to use it: Tell restaurant staff how many people are in your group.
位 is a polite measure word for people, especially guests.
請問還有位子嗎？
Is there still a table available?
When to use it: Ask restaurant staff whether they can seat your group.
請問 makes the question polite when approaching staff.
我們有訂位，名字是___
We have a reservation under ___.
When to use it: Give staff the name they should look for on the reservation.
Put the reservation name after 是.
大概要等多久？
About how long will the wait be?
When to use it: Ask this when your table is not ready.
多久 asks for the length of the wait, not a clock time.
可以給我們一點水嗎？
Could we have some water?
When to use it: Ask staff for water for your group.
Say it: 一 changes to a falling fourth tone before the following third tone.
我們可以點餐了
We're ready to order.
When to use it: Tell staff when your group has decided what to order.
了 marks the change from deciding to being ready.
Story — a table for four
Listen as Maya checks in for her group's hot-pot dinner. The reservation is there, but the table needs a little more time.
Follow what she asks at the entrance and what she says once everyone is seated.
- Restaurant staff晚上好，有訂位嗎？Good evening. Do you have a reservation?
Maya我們有訂位，名字是瑪雅。We have a reservation under Maya.- Restaurant staff找到了。今天幾位？Found it. How many tonight?
- Maya我們有四位。There are four of us.
- Restaurant staff四位的桌子還沒好喔。Your table for four isn't ready yet.
- Maya請問還有位子嗎？Is there another table available?
- Restaurant staff現在沒有空位喔。There aren't any open seats right now.
- Maya大概要等多久？About how long will the wait be?
- Restaurant staff大概十分鐘。About ten minutes.
Yi-Jun那我們等一下吧。Then let's wait a bit.- Restaurant staff好了，這邊請。It's ready. This way, please.
- Maya可以給我們一點水嗎？Could we have some water?
- Restaurant staff好，馬上來。Sure, coming right up.
- The water arrives, and the group looks over the menu.
- Yi-Jun我們先看一下菜單。Let's look at the menu first.
- Maya我們可以點餐了。We're ready to order.
Practice — get seated
Work through the arrival, the wait, and the first moments at the table. Some exercises ask you to recognize a line; others ask you to put its words together.
Check the meaning before moving on.
0 of 9 done
Build the line
Build the line
We are four people.
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The staff has not mentioned your reservation yet. Ask whether any table is available.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The staff asks which name to look for on your reservation. Give the reservation line with a name.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
大概要等多久？
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Build the line
Build the line
We're ready to order.
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are guiding your friends toward their table. Say, “This way, please.”
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
We'll look at the menu first.
我們先看一下____
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
大概要等多久？
Say it — speak to the staff
You play Maya at the hot-pot restaurant. Speak to the staff for your group, from checking the reservation to asking about the wait.
After you sit down, ask for water and say when everyone is ready to order.
- Restaurant staff晚上好，有訂位嗎？Good evening. Do you have a reservation?
- Maya (you)Say you have a reservation and give your name.
Say you have a reservation and give your name.
我們有訂位，名字是___
We have a reservation under ___.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 我們有四位 | We are four people. | |
| 請問還有位子嗎？ | Is there still a table available? | |
| 我們有訂位，名字是___ | We have a reservation under ___. | |
| 大概要等多久？ | About how long will the wait be? | |
| 可以給我們一點水嗎？ | Could we have some water? | |
| 我們可以點餐了 | We're ready to order. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these restaurant lines handy in Yak Cards.
Review them before your next meal out with friends.
Open Yak Cards