点菜（diǎncài）- Order Dishes

In most Chinese restaurants, there are no English waiters or waitresses, so being able to order dishes in Chinese by yourself will not only be of great help, but can be a real cultural experience. Now, let's learn how to 点菜（diǎncài）- order dishes at a Chinese restaurant.

Sentence Pattern

除了…, 还… besides …

e.g.

chúle nǐ, háiyǒu shuí huì shuōzhōnɡwén?

除了 你，还有 谁 会 说中文？

Who can speak Chinese besides you?

chúle wándiànnǎo, wǒ hái xǐhuān xuéxí.

除了 玩电脑，我 还 喜欢 学习。

Besides playing computer, I also like studying.

对话（Dialogue）

fúwùyuán, wǒ yào diǎncài.

A: 服务员，我 要 点菜。

Waiter… I want to order food.

zhèshì càidān, qǐnɡwèn nín chīdiǎn’r shénme?

B : 这是 菜单， 请问 您 吃点儿 什么？

Here is the menu. What would you like to eat?

nǐmen zhè’rde náshǒucài shì shénme?

A：你们 这儿的 拿手菜 是 什么？

What is your special dish?

běijīnɡ kǎoyā.

B：北京 烤鸭。

Beijing Duck.

chúle běijīnɡ kǎoyā, háiyǒu shénme?

A：除了 北京 烤鸭，还有 什么？

Besides the Beijing Duck, what else?

háiyǒu tánɡcù lǐjǐ ɡōnɡbǎo jīdīnɡ hé mápó dòufu.

B：还有 糖醋 里脊、宫保 鸡丁 和 麻婆 豆腐。

We also have Sweet and Sour Pork, Kung Pao Chicken and Mapo Tofu.

láiyìzhī běijīnɡkǎoyā, zàishànɡyífèn ɡōnɡbǎojīdīnɡ.

B：来一只 北京烤鸭， 再来一份 宫保鸡丁。

I want a Beijing Duck and Kung Pao Chicken.

hǎode. qǐnɡshāoděnɡ.

A：好的。请稍等。

OK. Please wait a moment.

生词（New words）

New Words	Meaning	Sound
diǎncài 点菜	to order dishes
càidān 菜单	menu
náshǒu 拿手	special
běijīnɡ kǎoyā 北京烤鸭	Beijing Roast Duck
tánɡcù lǐjī 糖醋里脊	Sweet and Sour Pork
ɡōnɡbǎo jīdīnɡ 宫保鸡丁	Kung Pao Chicken
mápó dòufu 麻婆豆腐	Mapo Tofu
shāoděnɡ 稍等	to wait a moment