New here? This is lesson 199 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
Asking for a recommendation in Traditional 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.
- 你有推薦的嗎？Do you have a recommendation?
- 這家我很推薦I highly recommend this place.
- 招牌菜是什麼？What's the signature dish?
- 哪一家最值得去？Which place is most worth visiting?
- 你可以去問問看老闆You could ask the owner.
- 我朋友說不錯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.
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.
你有推薦的嗎？
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 推薦 into something being recommended.
這家我很推薦
I highly recommend this place.
When to use it: Use this to recommend a place you know or like.
Putting 這家 first makes the place the topic of your recommendation.
招牌菜是什麼？
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.
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.
你可以去問問看老闆
You could ask the owner.
When to use it: Suggest asking the owner when they can give more specific information.
問問看 softens the suggestion by making it sound like a quick try.
我朋友說不錯
My friend said it's good.
When to use it: Use this to pass on a positive opinion you heard from a friend.
說 reports what someone said; 不錯 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.
Yi-Jun我朋友說不錯。My friend said it's good.
Maya你有推薦的嗎？Do you have a recommendation?- Yi-Jun這家我很推薦。I highly recommend this place.
- Maya哪一家最值得去？Which place is most worth visiting?
- Yi-Jun我最喜歡的是這家。My favorite is this one.
- Yi-Jun你可以去問問看老闆。You could ask the owner.
- Later, Maya asks Auntie Lin for a food recommendation at Banyan Breakfast.
- Maya招牌菜是什麼？What's the signature dish?
Auntie Lin蛋餅很多人都點。A lot of people order the egg pancake.- Auntie Lin這家我很推薦。I highly recommend this place.
- Maya我朋友說不錯。My friend said it's good.
- Auntie Lin我最喜歡的是這家。My favorite is this one.
A-Li豆漿還沒喝完。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
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
我朋友說不錯
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are planning an outing with Yi-Jun and want her to suggest a place.
Build the line
Build the line
I highly recommend this place.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
What's the signature dish?
____是什麼？
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
哪一家最值得去？Drop the English here你可以去問問看老闆Drop the English here我朋友說不錯Drop the English hereEnglish
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Yi-Jun says:
Pick the reply
招牌菜是什麼？
What's the signature dish?
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
Replace the word for a suggestion with the word for a recommendation.
你有____的嗎？
Pick the reply
Yi-Jun says:
Pick the reply
哪一家最值得去？
Which place is most worth visiting?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
At a restaurant, ask the owner which dish the place is known for.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
有哪些景點值得去？
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.
- Maya asks Yi-Jun for a local suggestion.
- Maya (you)Ask Yi-Jun whether she has a recommendation.
Ask Yi-Jun whether she has a recommendation.
你有推薦的嗎？
Do you have a recommendation?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 你有推薦的嗎？ | Do you have a recommendation? | |
| 這家我很推薦 | I highly recommend this place. | |
| 招牌菜是什麼？ | What's the signature dish? | |
| 哪一家最值得去？ | Which place is most worth visiting? | |
| 你可以去問問看老闆 | You could ask the owner. | |
| 我朋友說不錯 | 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.
Open Yak Cards