Learn the key pattern to order at a restaurant
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| Let's take a closer look at the conversation. |
| Do you remember how Mark asks for water? |
| "Waiter, I'd like some water, thanks." |
| 服务员，我要水，谢谢。(Fúwùyuán, wǒ yào shuǐ, xièxiè.) |
| First is 服务员 (fúwùyuán), meaning, "waiter" or "waitress," depending on the context. 服务员. 服务员. |
| In this case, Mark Lee is calling Han Hu, so 服务员 (fúwùyuán) will translate as "waiter." |
| Next is 我 (wǒ), "I." 我.我. |
| After that is 要 (yào), "would like," in this context. 要. 要. |
| Translation note, 要, can also translate as "to want." We'll use "would like" for this conversation. |
| Next is 水 (shuǐ), "water." 水. 水. |
| Last is 谢谢 (xièxiè), "thanks." 谢谢. 谢谢. |
| All together, 服务员，我要水, 谢谢。 "Waiter, I'd like [some] water, thanks." |
| 服务员，我要水，谢谢。(Fúwùyuán, wǒ yào shuǐ, xièxiè.) |
| Let's take a closer look at the response. |
| Do you remember the waiter's response, |
| "Okay. Coming right away." |
| 好。马上来。(Hǎo. Mǎshàng lái.) |
| First is 好 (hǎo), "okay," in this context. It's used to show agreement with the speaker's request. 好. 好. |
| The second part of the response is 马上来 (mǎshàng lái). |
| It can be divided into two parts. |
| First is 马上 (mǎshàng), "right away" or "immediately." 马上. 马上. |
| Next is 来 (lái), "to come". 来. 来. |
| Together, 马上来 literally means "right away come," but translates as "coming right away." 马上来. |
| Altogether, 好。马上来。(Hǎo. Mǎshàng lái.) "Okay. Coming right away." |
| 好。马上来。(Hǎo. Mǎshàng lái.) |
| The pattern is |
| 我要 {ITEM}，谢谢 。(Wǒ yào {ITEM}, xièxie.) |
| "I'd like {ITEM}, thanks." |
| 我要 {ITEM}，谢谢 。 |
| To use this pattern, simply replace the {ITEM} placeholder with the object you are requesting. |
| Imagine you'd like some coffee. 咖啡 (kāfēi). 咖啡. 咖啡. |
| Say: "I'd like some coffee, thanks." |
| Ready? |
| 我要咖啡，谢谢。(Wǒ yào kāfēi, xièxie.) |
| "I'd like some coffee, thanks." |
| 我要咖啡，谢谢。(Wǒ yào kāfēi, xièxie.) |
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