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<Chinese Learning> In the Restaurant
May 15, 2007 22:12
  • MAY001
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When you are dine out, it's better to have a Chinese friend comparing with you cos Chinese dishes are various. You may also remember the dishes you like most and ask the waiter/waitress directly. Now let's learn some simple phrases and words.

First of all, the menu (菜单, Cai 4 Dan 1). Most of restaurants have decent menu with pictures of the dishes on it. You may browse the picture and decide too. When you want to see the menu, you may call the waiter/waitress and say 我想看菜单 or simply 菜单.

我想(Wo 3 Xiang 3) means I want to
看(Kan 4) means Look, See, Watch

May 15, 2007 22:19
#1  
  • MAY001
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While ording the dishes, you may say 我要(Wo 3 Yao 4)**** which means I want, I'd like. For example, you want to order a beer. You may say:
我要一瓶啤酒(Wo 3 Yao 4 Yi 4 Ping 2 Pi 2 Jiu 3). 一瓶(Yi 4 Ping 2) means A Bottle of , and 啤酒(Pi 2 Jiu 3) is Beer. You can also say 我要一杯啤酒(Wo 3 Yao 4 Yi 4 Bei 1 Pi 2 Jiu 3), which means I want a glass of beer. 一杯(Yi 4 Bei 1) means A cup of / a glass of.

冰啤酒(Bing 1 Pi 2 Jiu 3): cold beer.
May 15, 2007 22:23
#2  
  • MAY001
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Other words you may use:
筷子(Kuai 4 Zi), the chopsticks.
叉子(Cha 1 Zi), the fork.
勺子(Shao 2 Zi), the spoon.
碗(Wan 3), the bowl.
盘子(Pan 2 Zi), the plate.
杯子(Bei 1 Zi), the glass.
餐巾纸(Can 1 Jin 1 Zhi 3), the napkins.
May 15, 2007 22:27
#3  
  • MAY001
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Finally, you may pay the bill. In northern China, it is used to say 结账(Jie 1 Zhang 4). Now it's more popular to say 买单(Mai 3 Dan 1) which has the same meaning that you want to pay the bill. Just call the waiter/waitress and say 买单(Mai 3 Dan 1), he/she will bring your bill to your table.

Generally, you don't need to pay tips in Chinese restaurants and no one is allowed to ask for tips. But if you like the service, you may pay some extra money.
May 17, 2007 10:26
#4  
  • LIONPOWER
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Thanks May,
Wish to know conversation used in massage parlor, an ancient & famous profession in China.
May 17, 2007 11:55
#5  
  • KENXI
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Hello May,

We appreciate your continued excellence!
May 18, 2007 03:31
#6  
  • MAY001
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massage parlor? let me think about it. I never went to that place~
May 18, 2007 10:47
#7  
  • LIONPOWER
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In Shenzhen, Every where
May 20, 2007 21:51
#8  
  • MAY001
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So what did you say when in a massage parlor? Maybe you can tell me the English and I can translate it into Chinese pinyin
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