Shanghai is overflowing with new and exciting restaurants to check out, but sometimes authentic dining means that no one in the restaurant speaks English. Avoid the charades and headache-inducing finger pointing by picking up a few Mandarin phrases to make ordering a breeze.
A table for __ people?
__个人的桌位？
Gè rén dí zhuō wèi ？
Could we please order?
我们想要点菜
Wǒ mén xiǎng yào diǎn cài
Water
水
Shuǐ
Orange juice
橙汁
Chéng zhī
Apple juice
苹果汁
Píng guǒ zhī
Tea
茶
Chá
Beer
啤酒
Pí jiǔ
Red wine
红葡萄酒
Hóng pú táo jiǔ
White wine
白葡萄酒
Bái pú táo jiǔ
Pork
猪肉
Zhū ròu
Beef
牛肉
Niú ròu
Chicken
鸡肉
Jī ròu
Fish
鱼肉
Yú ròu
Nuts
坚果
Jiān guǒ
Seafood
海鲜
Hǎi xiān
Dairy
乳制品
Rǔ zhì pǐn
Gluten
谷物
Gǔ wù
Is this hot? (temperature)
是热菜吗？
Shì rè cài má ？
Is this cold?
是冷菜吗？
Shì lěng cài má ？
Does this have_______?
菜里面有_______吗？
Cài lǐ miàn yǒu_______má ？
I am allergic to_________
我对_______过敏
Wǒ duì _______ guò mǐn
I would like it with_________
口味我想要
Kǒu wèi wǒ xiǎng yào _________
No spice
不辣
Bù là
Low spice
微辣
Wēi là
Moderate spice
中辣
Zhōng là
Spicy
重辣
Zhòng là
Check please
买单
Mǎi dān
Where’s the bathroom?
请问洗手间在哪里？
Qǐng wèn xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ ？
May I have a takeout box?
可以打包吗？
Kě yǐ dǎ bāo má ?
Could we have one more of this?
可以再加一份吗？
Kě yǐ zài jiā yī fèn má？
[Title image via Pexels]
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