Hanyu Jiaocheng • BLCU • Restaurant Lesson
Hanyu Jiaocheng Ordering Food Lesson — 点菜 and Restaurant Chinese
The restaurant chapter in 汉语教程 (Hanyu Jiaocheng) by Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) teaches how to order from a menu, ask for recommendations, handle dietary preferences and pay the bill. 点菜 (to order food) and measure words like 碗, 盘, and 杯 are central to this lesson.
Restaurant Vocabulary — 17 Words
Chinese restaurants use measure words constantly — 一碗 (a bowl of), 一盘 (a plate of), 一杯 (a glass/cup of). The Hanyu Jiaocheng restaurant lesson introduces all three and uses them throughout the dialogue exercises.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 餐厅 / 饭馆 | cāntīng / fànguǎn | restaurant | 餐厅 = formal/chain restaurant; 饭馆 = local eatery |
| 服务员 | fúwùyuán | waiter / server | Call out 服务员！to get attention — this is normal, not rude |
| 菜单 | càidān | menu | 请给我菜单 = please give me the menu |
| 点菜 | diǎncài | to order food / to place an order | 我要点菜了 = I'm ready to order |
| 我要 | wǒ yào | I would like / I want | More direct than 我想要; both are used at restaurants |
| 一碗 | yī wǎn | one bowl (of) | 一碗面条 = one bowl of noodles; 碗 is the measure word for bowls |
| 一盘 | yī pán | one plate (of) | 一盘饺子 = one plate of dumplings; 盘 is the measure word for plates |
| 一杯 | yī bēi | one cup / one glass (of) | 一杯茶 = a cup of tea; 一杯啤酒 = a glass of beer |
| 好吃 | hǎo chī | delicious / good to eat | 好 + verb = pleasant action. 好喝 = tastes good (drinks) |
| 辣 | là | spicy | 不要辣 = no spice please; 有点辣 = a little spicy |
| 甜 | tián | sweet | |
| 咸 | xián | salty | |
| 推荐 | tuījiàn | to recommend | 你推荐什么？= What do you recommend? |
| 买单 / 结账 | mǎidān / jiézhàng | pay the bill / check please | Both work: 买单！is faster to shout across a restaurant |
| 打包 | dǎbāo | to pack up / takeaway / doggy bag | Can I have the rest packed: 能帮我打包吗？ |
| 还要 | hái yào | want more / also want | 还要一碗米饭 = one more bowl of rice |
| 够了 | gòu le | that's enough / no more needed | Use when the server asks if you need more |
Practice Dialogue — At the Noodle Shop
Two students (A, B) enter a local noodle restaurant and order. Server (C) takes the order.
服务员，请给我们菜单。
Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒmen càidān.
Waiter, could you bring us a menu please.
好的，给您。请问你们要点什么？
Hǎo de, gěi nín. Qǐngwèn nǐmen yào diǎn shénme?
Of course, here you go. What would you like to order?
我要一碗牛肉面，不要太辣。
Wǒ yào yī wǎn niúròu miàn, bú yào tài là.
I'd like a bowl of beef noodles, not too spicy.
我还没决定。你们有什么推荐？
Wǒ hái méi juédìng. Nǐmen yǒu shénme tuījiàn?
I haven't decided yet. What do you recommend?
今天的红烧排骨很好，很多客人都喜欢。
Jīntiān de hóngshāo páigǔ hěn hǎo, hěn duō kèrén dōu xǐhuān.
Today's braised spare ribs are great — many customers like them.
好，那我要一盘红烧排骨，还有一碗米饭。
Hǎo, nà wǒ yào yī pán hóngshāo páigǔ, háiyǒu yī wǎn mǐfàn.
Okay, I'll have a plate of braised spare ribs and a bowl of rice.
还有两杯茶，谢谢。
Háiyǒu liǎng bēi chá, xièxie.
And two cups of tea please.
好的，请稍等。
Hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng.
Certainly, please wait a moment.
— After the meal —
太好吃了！服务员，买单！
Tài hǎo chī le! Fúwùyuán, mǎidān!
So delicious! Waiter, check please!
好的，一共八十八块。
Hǎo de, yīgòng bāshíbā kuài.
Certainly, that's 88 yuan altogether.
能打包剩下的排骨吗？
Néng dǎbāo shèngxia de páigǔ ma?
Could you pack up the leftover ribs?
当然可以！
Dāngrán kěyǐ!
Of course!
Grammar Patterns
Number + measure word + noun
一碗面 / 两盘饺子 / 三杯茶
Chinese requires a measure word between a number and a noun. 碗=bowl, 盘=plate, 杯=cup/glass, 个=general. Never: 一面条 ✗
Don't want / without [item]
不要辣。/ 不要葱。— No spice. / No green onions.
At restaurants: state what you don't want after ordering. Clear and direct.
And also / additionally
还有一碗米饭。— And also a bowl of rice.
Used to add items to an order. 还要 (hái yào) = want more of the same thing.
So [adjective]!
太好吃了！— So delicious! / 太辣了！— Way too spicy!
Expressive pattern for strong reactions — common in restaurant contexts.