3 · 40 words

Eating out

Ordering, eating and paying in a restaurant.

In a Chinese restaurant the dishes go in the middle of the table and everyone shares, so you order 菜(cài) for the table rather than a plate each. To pay, call out 买单(mǎidān); leftovers are taken home without the least embarrassment — just ask to 打包(dǎbāo).

The words

Verb (8)

点菜(diǎncài)to order (dishes)Verb3

你(nǐ)来(lái)点菜(diǎncài)吧(ba)，我(wǒ)什么(shénme)都(dōu)吃(chī)。You order — I'll eat anything.

买单(mǎidān)to pay the billVerb3

服务员(fúwùyuán)，买单(mǎidān)！Waiter, the bill, please!

What you call out when you want to pay; the bill is brought to the table.

打包(dǎbāo)to pack up (leftovers); to take awayVerb3

这些(zhèxiē)菜(cài)没(méi)吃完(chīwán)，帮(bāng)我们(wǒmen)打包(dǎbāo)吧(ba)。We didn't finish these dishes — could you pack them up for us?

剩(shèng)to be left overVerb3

菜(cài)点(diǎn)得(de)太(tài)多(duō)，剩(shèng)了(le)不少(bùshǎo)。We ordered too much, and quite a lot was left over.

上菜(shàngcài)to serve the dishesVerb3

我们(wǒmen)等(děng)了(le)半(bàn)个(ge)小时(xiǎoshí)，还(hái)没(méi)上菜(shàngcài)。We've waited half an hour and the food still hasn't come.

等位(děngwèi)to wait for a tableVerb3

这(zhè)家(jiā)店(diàn)太(tài)火(huǒ)了(le)，每天(měitiān)晚上(wǎnshang)都(dōu)要(yào)等位(děngwèi)。This place is so popular that you have to wait for a table every evening.

点餐(diǎncān)to order (a meal)Verb3

在(zài)这(zhè)家(jiā)店(diàn)用(yòng)手机(shǒujī)扫(sǎo)一下(yíxià)就(jiù)能(néng)点餐(diǎncān)。In this restaurant you can order just by scanning a code with your phone.

Common in fast-food places and on screens; at the table people say 点菜(diǎncài).

续杯(xùbēi)to refill (a cup)Verb3

这里(zhèlǐ)的(de)咖啡(kāfēi)可以(kěyǐ)免费(miǎnfèi)续杯(xùbēi)。You get free refills on coffee here.

This list belongs to Food and drink — six lists and 240 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.