20 Chinese Phrases to Order Food (with Pinyin and Pronunciation)

Yes, you can survive in Chinese restaurants with just 20 phrases. Mandarin has four tones that change meaning — “mā” (mother) vs. “mǎ” (horse) — so pronunciation matters more than grammar. Below are the 20 phrases that get you through 95% of restaurant and street-food situations in China, grouped by scenario, with pinyin, English meaning, and a tone-by-tone pronunciation guide. Print or screenshot this page before you fly. Pair with a translation app for anything not on this list.

How to read pinyin (5-second primer)

Pinyin spells Chinese words in the Latin alphabet. Each syllable has a tone mark (ā á ǎ à) or no mark. The four tones are:

• Tone 1 (ā) — high, flat (“aaaah”)
• Tone 2 (á) — rising (“ah?” like asking a question)
• Tone 3 (ǎ) — falling then rising (“oh-ah”)
• Tone 4 (à) — sharp falling (“ah!” like a command)

A common mistake: foreigners default to Tone 1. Chinese speakers will still understand you, but they may smile. Listen to the Pleco app or Google Translate speaker to get the tones right.

Phrase 1-5: Entering the restaurant

1. 你好,两位 (nǐ hǎo, liǎng wèi) — “Hello, two people” Use this at the door. The number is liǎng wèi (two people) — change to yī wèi (one), sān wèi (three), sì wèi (four). They’ll seat you.

2. 菜单,谢谢 (cài dān, xiè xie) — “Menu, please” “cài dān” is the menu. Larger restaurants have English menus; smaller ones don’t.

3. 现在点菜吗? (xiàn zài diǎn cài ma?) — “Can I order now?” The server will likely ask this. “xiàn zài” means “right now” and “diǎn cài” means “order food.”

4. 你们有什么特色菜? (nǐ men yǒu shén me tè sè cài?) — “What are your specialties?” “tè sè cài” (special dishes) is the magic phrase that gets you the best things the kitchen makes.

5. 我可以看一下吗? (wǒ kě yǐ kàn yī xià ma?) — “Can I take a look?” Use this to see the menu, the kitchen, the bathroom, etc.

Phrase 6-10: Ordering dishes

6. 我要这个 (wǒ yào zhè ge) — “I want this one” Point at the menu. The simplest possible way to order.

7. 不要辣 (bú yào là) — “Not spicy” Critical. “là” means spicy. Most Sichuan and Hunan dishes are very spicy; this phrase saves your stomach.

8. 少辣 (shǎo là) — “A little spicy” If you want some heat but not overwhelming.

9. 不要香菜 (bú yào xiāng cài) — “No cilantro” Cilantro is everywhere. This phrase is necessary if you’re in the ~15% of people who can’t stand it.

10. 一份 (yī fèn) — “One portion (of this)” For ordering specific quantities. “yī fèn” = one, “liǎng fèn” = two.

Phrase 11-15: Specific dishes and drinks

11. 一杯啤酒 (yī bēi pí jiǔ) — “One beer” “yī bēi” is “one cup/glass.” The local beer in most cities is whatever the cheapest option on the menu is (often 青岛啤酒/Qīngdǎo Píjiǔ, Tsingtao).

12. 茶,谢谢 (chá, xiè xie) — “Tea, please” In most Chinese restaurants, tea is free or very cheap (¥5–10/pot). They’ll bring it without asking.

13. 米饭 (mǐ fàn) — “Steamed rice” If you want a bowl of rice to go with your dishes. Most meals come with rice automatically, but not always.

14. 饺子 (jiǎo zi) — “Dumplings” The universal “I want dumplings” phrase. “jiǎo” rhymes with “jow” in “jowl.”

15. 包子 (bāo zi) — “Steamed buns” “Bāo” rhymes with “cow” (sort of). Stuffed with pork, vegetables, or red bean paste.

Phrase 16-20: Dietary needs and emergencies

16. 我吃素 (wǒ chī sù) — “I’m vegetarian” The most important phrase for any vegetarian in China. See our dietary restrictions guide for more.

17. 我对___过敏 (wǒ duì ___ guò mǐn) — “I’m allergic to ___” The blank can be 花生 (huā shēng, peanuts), 海鲜 (hǎi xiān, seafood), 麸质 (fū zhì, gluten), 牛奶 (niú nǎi, milk). Critical phrase for allergy sufferers. For a full dietary card, see our dietary restrictions guide.

18. 买单 (mǎi dān) — “Check, please” Literally “buy the bill.” You can also just raise your hand and make a “writing” gesture. Service charge isn’t a thing in most Chinese restaurants.

19. 好吃! (hǎo chī!) — “Delicious!” Two of the most rewarding syllables in Mandarin. Servers love hearing this. “hǎo” is high and flat (Tone 3, slightly falling then rising); “chī” is also Tone 1. Hǎo chī.

20. 谢谢,很好吃 (xiè xie, hěn hǎo chī) — “Thanks, very tasty” Wrap up the meal with appreciation. “hěn” (very) is Tone 3 — your tone will be slightly off but no one minds.

Bonus phrases for street food

21. 好吃,怎么做的? (hǎo chī, zěn me zuò de?) — “Delicious, how do you make it?” Use at street stalls to start a conversation with vendors. Many will be charmed that a foreigner wants to learn.

22. 可以微信支付吗? (kě yǐ Wēi Xìn zhī fù ma?) — “Can I pay with WeChat?” If you haven’t set up WeChat Pay, ask if they accept it before ordering.

23. 多少钱? (duō shǎo qián?) — “How much?” Use at any market or street stall. They’ll hold up fingers or show you the price on a calculator.

24. 太贵了! (tài guì le!) — “Too expensive!” Standard haggling opener at markets. “guì” is expensive; “pián yi” is cheap.

25. 打包 (dǎ bāo) — “Takeaway / to-go” Useful when you can’t finish a meal. They’ll wrap it in plastic containers or bags.

Pronunciation cheat sheet for the tones

Tone	Mandarin	English analogy
1 (flat)	mā	”maaa” (singing)
2 (rising)	má	”ma?” (question)
3 (fall-rise)	mǎ	”oh-ah” (doubt)
4 (sharp fall)	mà	”ma!” (command)

The most-mistaken word is probably 你好 (nǐ hǎo, hello). The “nǐ” is Tone 3 (fall-rise) and “hǎo” is also Tone 3. Most foreigners say “nee haow” with even tones — Chinese still understand, but practice the dip.

Apps that help with pronunciation

• Pleco (iOS/Android) — the best Chinese dictionary; includes audio, handwriting recognition, and example sentences. Free with paid add-ons.
• Google Translate (iOS/Android) — type or speak, hear the result. Works with VPN in China. See our VPN guide.
• HelloChinese (iOS/Android) — gamified Mandarin learning app for absolute beginners.
• Forvo (web) — native-speaker pronunciation of any word in any language.

Verified: “Pleco is the definitive Chinese dictionary for iOS and Android, with audio pronunciation, handwriting recognition, OCR, flashcards, and document reader” — Pleco.com, accessed 2026-07-24

The phrase card to print

Save or screenshot this for your phone:

RESTAURANT ESSENTIALS (中餐馆)
1. 你好,两位  nǐ hǎo, liǎng wèi — Hello, two people
2. 菜单      cài dān — Menu
3. 我要这个  wǒ yào zhè ge — I want this
4. 不要辣    bú yào là — Not spicy
5. 少辣      shǎo là — A little spicy
6. 茶        chá — Tea
7. 米饭      mǐ fàn — Rice
8. 我吃素    wǒ chī sù — I'm vegetarian
9. 好吃      hǎo chī — Delicious
10. 买单     mǎi dān — Check, please

The minimum you can get by with is 4 phrases (你, 这个, 好吃, 买单). But with all 25, you’ll have full conversations and make friends. For food safety and what dishes to try, see our street food guide and dietary restrictions guide.

Where to book

Pick a hotel near the food areas you’ll explore:

• Hotels in Shanghai’s French Concession — best food district
• Browse all China hotels

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