\tWhen you are visiting China or Taiwan, you will have lots of opportunities to sample the local cuisine. Since food is a national passion, there are restaurants and food stalls almost everywhere.<\/p>\n
\tThere are many different types of food available, from the various regional dishes of China, to Korean, Japanese, and Western. Fast food outlets are in all major cities, and there are also upscale restaurants specializing in Western food – Italian seems to be the most popular.<\/p>\n
\tRESTAURANT CUSTOMS
\tWhen you enter a restaurant, you will be asked how many people are in your party, and will be shown to a table. If an English menu is not available, and you don't read Chinese, you will have to ask for help, either from the waiter or a Chinese friend.<\/p>\n
\tMost restaurants are open only during meal times – 11:30 to 1:00 for lunch and 5:30 to 7:00 for dinner. Snacks are available almost any time at coffee houses, tea shops, and street vendors.<\/p>\n
\tMeals are eaten relatively quickly, and it is customary to leave the restaurant as soon as everyone is finished. Usually one person will pay for the whole group, so be sure to take your turn in paying for the meal.<\/p>\n
\tTipping is not common in either Taiwan or China, and you usually pay for the meal at the cash register.<\/p>\n
\tHere are some phrases to help you order food in a restaurant. Click on the link in the Pinyin column to hear the pronunciation.<\/p>\n
\t <\/p>\n
\tEnglish Pinyin Traditional Characters Simplified Characters
\tHow many people are there? Q\u01d0ngwèn j\u012b wèi? \u8acb\u554f\u5e7e\u4f4d? \u8bf7\u95ee\u51e0\u4f4d?
\tThere are ___ people (in our party). ___ wèi. ___ \u4f4d\uff61 ___ \u4f4d\uff61
\tSmoking or non-smoking? Ch\u014duy\u0101n ma? \u62bd\u7159\u55ce? \u62bd\u70df\u5417?
\tAre you ready to order? K\u011by\u01d0 di\u01cen cài le ma? \u53ef\u4ee5\u9ede\u83dc\u4e86\u55ce? \u53ef\u4ee5\u70b9\u83dc\u4e86\u5417?
\tYes, we are ready to order. W\u01d2men yào di\u01cen cài. \u6211\u5011\u8981\u9ede\u83dc\uff61 \u6211\u4eec\u8981\u70b9\u83dc\uff61
\tNot yet, please give us a few more minutes. Hái méi. Zài d\u011bng y\u012bxià. \u9084\u6c92. \u518d\u7b49\u4e00\u4e0b\uff61 \u8fd8\u6ca1. \u518d\u7b49\u4e00\u4e0b\uff61
\tI would like … . W\u01d2 yào … . \u6211\u8981… \u6211\u8981… .
\tI will have this. W\u01d2 yào zhègè. \u6211\u8981\u9019\u500b\uff61 \u6211\u8981\u8fd9\u4e2a\uff61
\tThat is for me. Shì w\u01d2de. \u662f\u6211\u7684\uff61 \u662f\u6211\u7684\uff61
\tThis is not what I ordered. Zhè búshì w\u01d2 di\u01cen de. \u9019\u4e0d\u662f\u6211\u9ede\u7684\uff61 \u8fd9\u4e0d\u662f\u6211\u70b9\u7684\uff61
\tPlease bring us some… . Q\u01d0ng zài g\u011bi w\u01d2men … . \u8acb\u518d\u7d66\u6211\u5011…\uff61 \u8bf7\u518d\u7ed9\u6211\u4eec…\uff61
\tCould I have the bill? Q\u01d0ng g\u011bi w\u01d2 zhàngd\u0101n. \u8acb\u7d66\u6211\u5e33\u55ae\uff61 \u8bf7\u7ed9\u6211\u5e10\u5355\uff61
\tHow much is it? Du\u014dsh\u01ceo qián? \u591a\u5c11\u9322? \u591a\u5c11\u94b1?
\tCan I pay by credit card? W\u01d2 k\u011by\u01d0 yòng xìnyòngk\u01ce ma? \u6211\u53ef\u4ee5\u7528\u4fe1\u7528\u5361\u55ce? \u6211\u53ef\u4ee5\u7528\u4fe1\u7528\u5361\u5417?
\tThe bill is not right. Zhàngd\u0101n bùduì. \u5e33\u55ae\u4e0d\u5c0d\uff61 \u5e10\u5355\u4e0d\u5bf9\uff61<\/p>\n