Career Magazine

138: How to Talk About Food and Drink in Mandarin Chinese

By Learnmandarinnow

Everybody has to eat and drink. Sometimes when you are out you will need to choose what you want or at other times, maybe when you are on a train or plane, you will be given a limited choice. Do you know how to ask or respond to a question about what you’d like?

In this Podcast, you will learn:

(i) How to ask about the availability of items to eat or drink

(ii) To respond to a question about a choice of foods you need to make

Dialogue:

在飞机上 (on the plane)

(zài fēi jī shàng )

A: 您好!您想喝点儿什么?

Nín hǎo! Nín xiǎng hē diǎn er shén me?

Hello! What would you like to drink?

B: 您有什么饮料?

Nín yǒu shén me yǐn liào?

What beverages do you have?

A: 我们有可乐,橘汁,番茄汁,苹果汁。

Wǒ mén yǒu kě lè, jú zhī, fān qié zhī, píng guǒ zhī.

We have coke, orange juice, tomato juice and apple juice.

B: 有热饮么?

Yǒu rè yǐn me?

Do you have any hot drinks?

A: 有。有茶和咖啡。

Yǒu. Yǒu chá hé kā fēi.

Sure. We have tea and coffee.

B: 好。请给我一杯茶。谢谢。

Hǎo. Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi chá. Xiè xie.

Okay, please give me a cup of tea. Thank you.

A:您好,午餐我们有鸡肉面条和牛肉米饭。您想吃哪个?

Nín hǎo, wǔ cān wǒ mén yǒu jī ròu miàn tiáo hé níu ròu mǐ fàn. Nín xiǎng chī nǎ gè?

Hello, we have chicken noodles and beef rice for lunch. Which one would you like to eat?

B:牛肉米饭吧。谢谢。

Níu ròu mǐ fàn bā. Xiè xie.

Beef rice please.

Thank you.

Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:

飞机:plane

喝:drink

饮料:beverage

可乐:coke

可口可乐:Coca Cola

橘汁:orange juice

番茄汁:tomato juice

苹果汁:apple juice

热饮:hot drink

茶:tea

咖啡:coffee

午餐:lunch

鸡肉:chicken

面条:noodles

牛肉:beef

米饭:rice

吃:eat

Cultural/Grammar notes:

On domestic flights in China, it’s very common to be offered rice and noodles as the most popular options. Rice is usually more favoured by people from southern China and noodles are more favoured by people from northern China.

Mandarin Chinese learning resources we recommend: 

italki
Using Italki, a unique system of learning Mandarin Chinese where you interact with real teachers, is widely recognised as an effective way to learn a new language! You’ll make more progress and learn how native Chinese speakers really speak. Plus, Italki is more affordable than offline tutors, offline schools and software, and is convenient to use at your own pace and place!

Keats Chinese School
Keats Chinese School, which was founded in 2004, is one of the top Mandarin Chinese language schools in China, offering both one-on-one immersion Mandarin courses and small group Chinese classes. Located in Kunming, Keats develops personalised exercises and materials for students to meet their learning goals and requirements and can arrange a student visa for its 16 week course.


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