New here? This is lesson 135 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
The night market in Traditional Chinese
At the night market, Maya joins the long line at A-Jie's chicken-cutlet stall. She stays in line until it is her turn, listening to the quick questions at the counter.
Learn to order one cutlet, choose a mild spice level, ask what's in it, and request it cut up. You will also ask the price and order one more.
Notice the measure word for one order of food, then practise a short exchange. The queue is real; the fortune slip remains unexplained.
By the end of this lesson
Order chicken cutlet at a night market, ask what is in it and how much it costs, and choose a mild spice level.
- 我要一份雞排I'd like one chicken cutlet.
- 要不要加辣？Do you want it spicy?
- 不要太辣Not too spicy.
- 切好Cut it up for me.
- 這個怎麼賣？How much is this?
- 老闆，再一份Boss, one more.
Scene — a long line for chicken cutlet
At A-Jie's night-market stall, the line stretches past two other stalls.
Maya joins the queue and stays in line the entire time, listening as customers order and the counter moves slowly.
When she reaches the front, she asks about the food and places her order.
A-Li's unfinished drink and the fortune slip remain part of the neighborhood's story, not an answer to explain here.
Learn — ordering at the stall
These six lines help you order chicken cutlet at a busy night-market stall. You can ask the price, choose your spice level, and request the food cut up.
Listen for the question and answer pattern, and notice the measure word used for an order.
我要一份雞排
I'd like one chicken cutlet.
When to use it: Use this to order one serving of chicken cutlet.
份 is the measure word for one order of food.
Say it: 一 changes to a rising tone before 份, which has a fourth tone.
要不要加辣？
Do you want it spicy?
When to use it: A seller can ask this when checking your preferred spice level.
不要太辣
Not too spicy.
When to use it: Use this to ask for food that is only mildly spicy.
Say it: 不 changes to a rising tone before 太, which has a fourth tone.
切好
Cut it up for me.
When to use it: Use this short request when you want the seller to cut up the food.
這個怎麼賣？
How much is this?
When to use it: Ask this about the price of an item at a stall.
老闆，再一份
Boss, one more.
When to use it: Use this to order one additional serving from the shop owner.
Story — Maya at A-Jie's stall
Maya waits in the long line at A-Jie's night-market stall and stays there until it is her turn. She asks about the chicken cutlet, then orders.
Listen for the seller's questions and Maya's short, useful answers.
Maya你好。Hello.
A-Jie美女，排隊要等一下喔。Beautiful, you'll have to wait in line a bit.- Maya stays in the line the whole time as it slowly moves forward, listening to other customers order. At last, she reaches the counter.
- Maya這個怎麼賣？How much is this?
- A-Jie一份七十元。One order is seventy dollars.
- Maya我要一份雞排。I'd like one chicken cutlet.
- A-Jie要不要加辣？Do you want it spicy?
- Maya不要太辣。Not too spicy.
- Maya裡面有什麼？What's in it?
- A-Jie裡面有胡椒，還有蒜。It has pepper and garlic inside.
- A-Jie要幫你切嗎？Would you like me to cut it up for you?
- Maya切好。Cut it up for me.
- A-Jie好喔，妳等很久了。Sure, you've been waiting a long time.
- A-Jie雞排好了。The chicken cutlet is ready.
- Maya老闆，再一份。Boss, one more.
Practice — order your food
Try these exercises as if you were waiting at A-Jie's stall. Choose the right response, listen for the order, and build a few lines.
Some questions ask what is inside the food; answer or ask as the situation calls for.
0 of 11 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
我要一份雞排
What do you say?
What do you say?
You reach the counter at the night market. Order one chicken cutlet.
Build the line
Build the line
Not too spicy.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
How much is this?
這個____賣？
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
我要一份雞排Drop the English here不要太辣Drop the English here切好Drop the English here這個怎麼賣？Drop the English hereEnglish
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
A-Jie says:
Pick the reply
要不要加辣？
Do you want it spicy?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
A-Jie asks if you want your cutlet cut up. Ask him to cut it.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You have already ordered one cutlet and decide to get another. Tell the shop owner.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
你好
What do you say?
What do you say?
At the counter, ask A-Jie what is inside the food.
Say it — your night-market order
You are Maya at A-Jie's busy night-market stall. Listen to A-Jie, then say your order and requests clearly.
The line is long, but you stay in it until your turn. Practise choosing a mild spice level and asking for the cutlet cut up.
- Maya reaches the front of A-Jie's long line.
- Maya (you)Order one chicken cutlet.
Order one chicken cutlet.
我要一份雞排
I'd like one chicken cutlet.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 我要一份雞排 | I'd like one chicken cutlet. | |
| 要不要加辣？ | Do you want it spicy? | |
| 不要太辣 | Not too spicy. | |
| 切好 | Cut it up for me. | |
| 這個怎麼賣？ | How much is this? | |
| 老闆，再一份 | Boss, one more. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Today's night-market lines are in Yak Cards with more useful phrases for ordering food.
Review a few food-ordering cards so your next stall visit feels easier.
Open Yak Cards