Food & Drinks

1. 我要这个

   Wǒ yào zhè gè

   I want this one

   Usage

   Used when pointing at a menu item to order

   Grammar Note

   "要" means "want". A softer order phrasing is "我想要 (Wǒ xiǎng yào)" (I would like).

2. 很好吃

   Hěn hǎo chī

   It is very delicious

   Usage

   Compliment used when food tastes good

   Grammar Note

   "好吃" is a compound meaning "good to eat". Paired with degree adverb "很" (very).

3. 买单

   Mǎi dān

   Check, please

   Usage

   Used to request the bill after a meal

   Grammar Note

   Literally "buy the bill". Common in dining contexts. "结账 (Jiézhàng)" (settle the account) is also used.

4. 来一杯水

   Lái yī bēi shuǐ

   One glass of water, please

   Usage

   Used to request a glass of water at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "来" used colloquially in ordering context means "bring". "杯 (bēi)" is the measure word for cups/glasses.

5. 我对花生过敏

   Wǒ duì huā shēng guò mǐn

   I am allergic to peanuts

   Usage

   Important phrase to communicate food allergies

   Grammar Note

   Pattern "对～过敏" (allergic to). Swap "花生" (peanuts) with other allergens as needed.

6. 不要辣

   Bú yào là

   No spice please / Not spicy

   Usage

   Used when ordering to ask for no spice

   Grammar Note

   "不要" is a negative imperative meaning "don't / no". Related: "少辣" (a little spicy), "中辣" (medium spicy).

7. 菜单在哪里？

   Cài dān zài nǎlǐ?

   Where is the menu?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "菜单" = "菜" (dish) + "单" (list). QR code menus are increasingly common in modern China.

8. 这道菜是什么做的？

   Zhè dào cài shì shén me zuò de?

   What is this dish made of?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the ingredients of a dish

   Grammar Note

   "道 (dào)" is the measure word for dishes/courses. "是…做的" is the pattern for asking what something is made of.

9. 可以打包吗？

   Kě yǐ dǎ bāo ma?

   Can I get this to go / takeaway?

   Usage

   Used to ask for leftovers or food to be packed to go

   Grammar Note

   "打包 (dǎ bāo)" is the everyday term for packing leftovers or takeaway. "可以～吗" asks for permission.

10. 推荐什么菜？

    Tuī jiàn shén me cài?

    What do you recommend?

    Usage

    Used to ask for the waiter's recommendation

    Grammar Note

    Also say "有什么推荐的吗" (Do you have any recommendations?). Useful for asking about local specialties.

11. 米饭

    Mǐfàn

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Cooked white rice; uncooked rice is "dàmǐ", a separate word

12. 面包

    Miànbāo

    Bread

    Usage

    Points at bread when ordering or shopping

13. 面条

    Miàntiáo

    Noodles

    Usage

    Points at noodles when ordering

14. 辣

    Là

    Spicy (chili hot)

    Usage

    Chili heat — the temperature sense of "hot" is "tàng", a different word

15. 甜

    Tián

    Sweet

    Usage

    The taste sweet; also used when asking for less sugar

16. 生的

    Shēng de

    Raw, uncooked

    Usage

    Means not heated through; its opposite is "shú de". The single character "shēng" also means "to live" or appears in "student", so the "shēng de" form is used to pin the food sense

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