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How to Say ‘I'll buy you a drink first.’ in Simplified Chinese

我先请你喝一杯。

wǒ xiān qǐng nǐ hē yī bēi

[wo shyen qǐng nee hē yi bay]

💬 Usage Tip: 请 here means "to treat" or "pay for", not "please": 我请你吃饭 "I'll treat you to dinner".

🇨🇳 In China: In China, whoever says 我请 is expected to pay. Offering it is a clear, generous signal of interest.

Phrase Breakdown

我先请你

wǒ xiān qǐng nǐ

let me first treat you

请 here means 'to treat' someone, as in paying for them. 先 means 'first'.

Example

我请你吃饭。

I'll treat you to a meal.

Words in this phrase

我

wǒ

[wo]

The speaker referring to themselves.

Example

我明天有空。

I am free tomorrow.

先

xiān

[shyen]

first; for now

Used to say you want to do something before anything else.

Example

我先看看特别菜单。

I'll first take a look at the special menu.

请

qǐng

[qǐng]

to treat; to buy for

To pay for someone's food or drink.

Example

今天我请你吃饭。

Today dinner is on me.

你

nǐ

[nee]

you

The informal or neutral word for “you,” suitable for peers or casual conversation.

Example

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.

喝一杯。

hē yī bēi

to a drink

喝一杯 means 'have a drink'. 一 changes to the fourth tone (yì) before 杯.

Example

我们去喝一杯吧。

Let's go have a drink.

Words in this phrase

喝

hē

[hē]

to drink

The action of consuming a liquid.

Example

我想喝摩天大楼。

I want to drink a Skyscraper.

一

yī

[yi]

one; a

The numeral for one or a single item.

Example

要喝一杯啤酒吗？

Would you like a beer?

杯

bēi

[bay]

cup; measure word for cups

A measure word used for drinks served in cups, like coffee.

Example

我要一杯咖啡。

I want a cup of coffee.

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