Lesson 6 — 在餐厅 (Zài cāntīng) — At the Restaurant
Learn useful vocabulary, grammar, and conversations for dining at a restaurant in Chinese.
1. Vocabulary | 词汇
Here are essential words and phrases you will need when dining out:
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 餐厅 | cāntīng | restaurant |
| 菜单 | càidān | menu |
| 服务员 | fúwùyuán | waiter / waitress |
| 点菜 | diǎn cài | order food |
| 结账 | jié zhàng | pay the bill |
| 好吃 | hǎo chī | delicious |
| 水 | shuǐ | water |
| 米饭 | mǐfàn | rice |
| 鸡肉 | jīròu | chicken |
| 牛肉 | niú ròu | beef |
| 鱼 | yú | fish |
| 蔬菜 | shūcài | vegetables |
| 多少钱 | duōshǎo qián | how much |
| 请 | qǐng | please |
| 我要 | wǒ yào | I want / I would like |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | thank you |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | can / may |
2. Grammar Notes | 语法
- 请 (qǐng) — polite way to ask or request something.
Example: 请给我菜单。
Pinyin: Qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.
English: Please give me the menu. - 要 (yào) — indicates desire or ordering.
Example: 我要一碗米饭。
Pinyin: Wǒ yào yì wǎn mǐfàn.
English: I want a bowl of rice. - 多少 (duōshǎo) — used to ask about price.
Example: 这个多少钱？
Pinyin: Zhège duōshǎo qián?
English: How much is this? - Polite sentence to request the bill:
请结账。
Pinyin: Qǐng jié zhàng.
English: Please bring the bill.
3. Example Sentences | 例句
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我想点菜。 | Wǒ xiǎng diǎn cài. | I want to order food. |
| 请给我一杯水。 | Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ. | Please give me a glass of water. |
| 这个菜好吃吗？ | Zhège cài hǎo chī ma? | Is this dish delicious? |
| 我不要辣的。 | Wǒ bù yào là de. | I don’t want it spicy. |
| 请问，这里可以刷卡吗？ | Qǐngwèn, zhè lǐ kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? | Excuse me, can I pay by card here? |
| 服务员，请结账。 | Fúwùyuán, qǐng jié zhàng. | Waiter, please bring the bill. |
4. Conversation | 对话
Example conversation when dining out:
顾客 (Customer):
你好，请给我菜单。
Nǐ hǎo, qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.
Hello, please give me the menu.
服务员 (Waiter):
好的，请稍等。
Hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng.
Okay, please wait a moment.
顾客:
我想点菜。我想要一份鸡肉和一碗米饭。
Wǒ xiǎng diǎn cài. Wǒ xiǎng yào yí fèn jīròu hé yì wǎn mǐfàn.
I’d like a serving of chicken and a bowl of rice.
服务员:
好的，还有别的吗？
Hǎo de, hái yǒu bié de ma?
OK, anything else?
顾客:
没有了。谢谢。请给我一杯水。
Méiyǒu le. Xièxie. Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
That’s all. Thank you. Please give me a glass of water.
服务员:
好的，马上来。
Hǎo de, mǎshàng lái.
Okay, coming right away.
顾客:
这个菜多少钱？
Zhège cài duōshǎo qián?
How much is this dish?
服务员:
三十块钱。
Sānshí kuài qián.
30 yuan.
顾客:
太贵了，可以便宜一点吗？
Tài guì le, kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?
Too expensive! Can it be cheaper?
服务员:
好吧，二十五块钱。
Hǎo ba, èrshíwǔ kuài qián.
Alright, 25 yuan.
顾客:
谢谢！
Xièxie!
Thank you!
5. Practice | 练习
- Translate: 请给我菜单。
- Ask for the price of a dish: 这个菜多少钱？
- Create your own sentence using 我要... to order food.
- Practice politely asking for water or other drinks using 请.
- Role-play ordering multiple dishes with a friend.
6. Summary | 总结
In this lesson, you learned essential vocabulary, grammar, example sentences, and a conversation for dining at a restaurant in Chinese. You now know how to politely order food, ask for prices, request drinks, and ask for the bill. Practicing these sentences and conversation will improve your fluency and confidence when eating out in Chinese-speaking environments.