How to Say ‘I'd like to buy you a coffee, is that okay?’ in Simplified Chinese
我想请你喝咖啡，可以吗？
wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ hē kā fēi kě yǐ ma
[wo shyang qǐng nee hē kāfēi kuh-ee ma]
🇨🇳 In China: Offering to pay with 请 makes your intent clear. It reads as an invitation, not just casual company, and in China the person who invites usually pays.
Phrase Breakdown
我想请你
wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ
I'd like to treat you
请 here means 'to treat (and pay for)'. Say the third tones smoothly.
我想请你看电影。
I'd like to take you to a movie.
Words in this phrase
我
wǒ
[wo]
I
The speaker referring to themselves.
我明天有空。
I am free tomorrow.
想
xiǎng
[shyang]
to want; to think
Often means “to want” when followed by a verb, useful for polite questions and intentions.
我想多听听贵公司的介绍。
I would like to hear more about your company’s introduction.
请
qǐng
[qǐng]
to treat; to buy for someone
To pay for someone's food or drink as a treat.
今天我请你吃饭。
Today I'll treat you to a meal.
你
nǐ
[nee]
you
The informal or neutral word for “you,” suitable for peers or casual conversation.
如果对方和你年纪差不多，可以说“认识你”。
If the other person is about your age, you can say “nice to meet you” with 你.
喝咖啡，
hē kā fēi
to coffee
This finishes the invitation. Pause briefly at the comma.
我们去喝咖啡。
We're going for coffee.
Words in this phrase
喝
hē
[hē]
to drink
Verb for consuming liquids like water, tea or coffee.
我喝咖啡。
I drink coffee.
咖啡
kā fēi
[kāfēi]
coffee
A loanword noun for the drink coffee.
我每天喝一杯咖啡。
I drink a cup of coffee every day.
可以吗？
kě yǐ ma
is that OK?
A polite tag asking for permission, pronounced kéyǐ ma.
我用一下，可以吗？
Can I use it for a moment?
Words in this phrase
可以
kě yǐ
[kuh-ee]
can; okay; acceptable
Used to say something is possible, allowed, or acceptable.
你定时间也可以。
It’s also fine if you choose the time.
吗
ma
[ma]
question particle
A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.
你是第一次来吗？这里的“吗”表示提问。
Is this your first time here? Here, 吗 marks a question.
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