Extra orders, service and tableware
Ask for extra dishes, water, napkins, chopsticks, spoons, bowls, plates, serving bowls, and help from staff. Dim sum for four at a busy Guangzhou tea house. You need more tea, chopsticks and a hand from the staff.
Key phrases
The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.
-
服务员，您好。
Fúwùyuán, nín hǎo.
Excuse me, waiter / waitress.
- 服务员Fúwùyuán
- 您nín
- 好hǎo
-
我们想加菜。
Wǒmen xiǎng jiā cài.
We would like to order more dishes.
- 我们Wǒmen
- 想xiǎng
- 加jiā
- 菜cài
-
请给我们一壶热水。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen yì hú rèshuǐ.
Please give us a pot of hot water.
- 请Qǐng
- 给gěi
- 我们wǒmen
- 一yì
- 壶hú
- 热水rèshuǐ
-
请给我们两双筷子。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen liǎng shuāng kuàizi.
Please give us two pairs of chopsticks.
- 请Qǐng
- 给gěi
- 我们wǒmen
- 两liǎng
- 双shuāng
- 筷子kuàizi
-
请给我们公筷。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen gōngkuài.
Please give us serving chopsticks.
- 请Qǐng
- 给gěi
- 我们wǒmen
- 公筷gōngkuài
-
这个菜还要多久？
Zhège cài hái yào duōjiǔ?
How much longer will this dish take?
- 这个Zhège
- 菜cài
- 还hái
- 要yào
- 多久duōjiǔ
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
-
可以帮我们一下吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen yíxià ma?
Could you help us for a moment?
-
可以再点一个菜吗？
Kěyǐ zài diǎn yí ge cài ma?
Can we order one more dish?
-
请给我们一杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen yì bēi shuǐ.
Please give us a glass of water.
-
请给我们一杯冰水。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen yì bēi bīngshuǐ.
Please give us a glass of ice water.
-
请给我们一些纸巾。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen yìxiē zhǐjīn.
Please give us some napkins.
-
请给我们两个勺子。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen liǎng ge sháozi.
Please give us two spoons.
-
请给我们几个小碗。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen jǐ ge xiǎo wǎn.
Please give us a few small bowls.
-
请给我们几个盘子。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen jǐ ge pánzi.
Please give us a few plates.
-
请给我们公勺。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen gōngsháo.
Please give us a serving spoon.
-
我们等了很久。
Wǒmen děng le hěn jiǔ.
We have been waiting for a long time.
-
可以帮我们催一下吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen cuī yíxià ma?
Could you help check with the kitchen and hurry it up?
-
可以先上这个菜吗？
Kěyǐ xiān shàng zhège cài ma?
Could you serve this dish first?
-
可以帮我们撤一下空盘吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen chè yíxià kōng pán ma?
Could you clear the empty plates for us?
-
可以擦一下桌子吗？
Kěyǐ cā yíxià zhuōzi ma?
Could you wipe the table?
-
可以给我们换一个干净的杯子吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒmen huàn yí ge gānjìng de bēizi ma?
Could you change this for a clean cup?
-
请帮我写下来。
Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě xiàlái.
Please write it down for me.
-
谢谢您的帮助。
Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
What you’ll hear, and how to answer
Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.
-
Staff
来了！需要什么？Lái le! Xūyào shénme?
Coming! What do you need?
You
请给我们两双筷子。Qǐng gěi wǒmen liǎng shuāng kuàizi.
Please give us two pairs of chopsticks.
-
Staff
我去厨房问一下。Wǒ qù chúfáng wèn yíxià.
I'll go and check with the kitchen.
You
谢谢您的帮助。Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
Play the scene
Dim sum for four at a busy Guangzhou tea house. You need more tea, chopsticks and a hand from the staff.
-
You
服务员，您好。
Fúwùyuán, nín hǎo.
Excuse me, waiter / waitress.
What do you say?
-
Staff
来了！需要什么？
Lái le! Xūyào shénme?
Coming! What do you need?
-
You
请给我们一壶热水。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen yì hú rèshuǐ.
Please give us a pot of hot water.
What do you say?
-
Staff
好的，马上给您拿。
Hǎo de, mǎshàng gěi nín ná.
Sure, I'll bring it right away.
-
You
这个菜还要多久？
Zhège cài hái yào duōjiǔ?
How much longer will this dish take?
What do you say?
-
Staff
我去厨房问一下。
Wǒ qù chúfáng wèn yíxià.
I'll go and check with the kitchen.
-
You
谢谢您的帮助。
Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
What do you say?
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Chopsticks
Use 双 for pairs of chopsticks: 一双筷子, 两双筷子.
Which phrase asks for two pairs of chopsticks?
Show the answer
请给我们两双筷子。 — Please give us two pairs of chopsticks.
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Terms
服务员 Waiter, waitress, or restaurant staff. You can use 服务员，您好 to politely get staff attention.
加菜 To order more dishes after the first order. Use this when you want to add food during the meal.
纸巾 Napkins or tissues. Some restaurants provide them for free, while others may charge a small fee.
筷子 Chopsticks. Use 双 as the measure word for pairs of chopsticks.
公筷 / 公勺 Serving chopsticks or serving spoon used for shared dishes. They help keep shared food hygienic.
催一下 To ask staff to check or hurry an order. It is useful when a dish has taken a long time.
Service Request Flow
Step 1: Get staff attention
Use 服务员，您好. This is polite and common. Avoid shouting loudly unless the restaurant is very noisy.
Step 2: Make a clear request
Use 请给我们…… for items, 可以帮我们……吗？ for help, and 可以……吗？ for permission or service.
Step 3: Confirm if waiting too long
If a dish has not arrived, ask 这个菜还要多久？ If it has been a long time, add 我们等了很久.
Useful Request Patterns
请给我们…… Use this to ask staff to bring something to your table.
可以帮我们……吗？ Use this to politely ask staff to help with something.
可以再……吗？ Use this when asking for one more item, another service, or an additional order.
……还要多久？ Use this to ask how much longer something will take.
Tableware and Measure Words
Chopsticks
Use 双 for pairs of chopsticks: 一双筷子, 两双筷子.
Spoons, bowls, plates, cups
Use 个 for many general items: 两个勺子, 几个小碗, 几个盘子, 一个杯子.
Water and drinks
Use 杯 for a glass or cup, 壶 for a pot, and 瓶 for a bottle: 一杯水, 一壶热水, 一瓶水.
Serving utensils
When sharing dishes, ask for 公筷 or 公勺 if they are not already on the table.
Waiting and Follow-up Tips
Ask politely first
Start with 这个菜还要多久？ It sounds neutral and polite.
Explain that you waited a long time
If the dish is very late, say 我们等了很久 before asking staff to check.
Ask to serve one dish first
If you are hungry or in a hurry, ask 可以先上这个菜吗？
Interactive Scenarios
Asking for service
- Traveler服务员，您好。
Fúwùyuán, nín hǎo.
Excuse me, waiter / waitress.
- Traveler可以帮我们一下吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen yíxià ma?
Could you help us for a moment?
- Traveler我们想加菜。
Wǒmen xiǎng jiā cài.
We would like to order more dishes.
Asking for tableware
- Traveler请给我们两双筷子。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen liǎng shuāng kuàizi.
Please give us two pairs of chopsticks.
- Traveler请给我们几个小碗。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen jǐ ge xiǎo wǎn.
Please give us a few small bowls.
- Traveler请给我们公筷。
Qǐng gěi wǒmen gōngkuài.
Please give us serving chopsticks.
Following up on a late dish
- Traveler这个菜还要多久？
Zhège cài hái yào duōjiǔ?
How much longer will this dish take?
- Traveler我们等了很久。
Wǒmen děng le hěn jiǔ.
We have been waiting for a long time.
- Traveler可以帮我们催一下吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒmen cuī yíxià ma?
Could you help check with the kitchen and hurry it up?
Mini Quiz
How do you politely call a waiter or waitress?
- 服务员，您好。 ✓ Answer
- 我要中辣。
- 房间有点问题。
Which phrase asks for two pairs of chopsticks?
- 请给我们两双筷子。 ✓ Answer
- 请给我们两个勺子。
- 请给我们几个盘子。
What do you say when a dish has taken a long time?
- 我们等了很久。 ✓ Answer
- 我们想坐禁烟区。
- 我们没有预约。
Which phrase asks staff to clear empty plates?
- 可以帮我们撤一下空盘吗？ ✓ Answer
- 可以帮我们催一下吗？
- 可以先上这个菜吗？