Ordering a coffee (Advanced): The size of coffee you want.

💬 都 here signals you expect a list of several answers, not just one. 哪几种 "which few kinds" works the same way: 你们都有哪几种口味？ "What flavors do you have?"

💬 中 (zhōng) is the same character as in 中国 "China", literally the "middle kingdom".

💬 杯 is also the counting word for drinks: 一杯咖啡 "a cup of coffee", 两杯水 "two glasses of water".

🇨🇳 In Chinese chain cafés, 中杯 is usually the smallest size on the menu, much like Starbucks' "Tall". Don't expect a smaller 小杯 to exist.

💬 Size word + 杯 makes the cup size: 中杯, 大杯, 超大杯. The same pattern works for other containers, like 大碗 "large bowl".

💬 超 (chāo) "super" goes in front of an adjective to push it further: 超好吃 "super tasty", 超贵 "super expensive".

🇨🇳 Menus in China often list cup sizes in milliliters, e.g. 355, 473 or 592 毫升, so it's useful to recognize it next to the size names.

💬 Time words like 下午 usually go right after the person, before the action: 我下午去 "I'll go this afternoon".

💬 得 here means "have to" and is read (děi), not the (de) you'll often see elsewhere. 还得 means "still have to".

🇨🇳 Overtime is a constant topic in Chinese office life, and mentioning 加班 is a common, sympathetic explanation for needing a big coffee.

💬 Adding 的 after a description lets it stand for the thing itself, so 超大杯的 means "an extra large one". Likewise 要个热的 "I want a hot one".

💬 完 after a verb means it's been done to the end: 用完了 "used up", 卖完了 "sold out", 吃完了 "finished eating".

💬 换成 means "change into" and takes what you're switching to: 换成冰的 "switch to iced", 换成燕麦奶 "switch to oat milk".

💬 Tack 可以吗？ onto the end of any suggestion to turn it into a polite request: 刷卡可以吗？ "Can I pay by card?"

🇨🇳 您 is the respectful "you", standard from service staff to customers. You don't need to use it back; 你 is fine from you to a barista.

🇨🇳 A soft acknowledgement when hearing news, often slightly disappointing, like "oh, okay". It buys you a moment before you decide what to do.

💬 多 before a verb means "extra" or "more of it": 多放糖 "add more sugar". 少 does the opposite: 少放冰 "less ice".

💬 份 (fèn) "portion" is the counting word for a serving or add-on, so 一份浓缩 is "one shot of espresso".

💬 块 (kuài) is the spoken word for yuan. Menus say 元, but people say 五块 for "five yuan".

💬 When the price is obvious, the money word is often dropped entirely: 三十八 alone means 38 yuan.

💬 吧 at the end turns a statement into a casual "I'll just…" or "let's…": 我们走吧 "Let's go".

🇨🇳 Paying by scanning a QR code with WeChat Pay or Alipay is the default almost everywhere in China, and cash is rare. Often the cashier scans your phone's code, or you scan theirs.

🇨🇳 Staff say this to confirm your payment has gone through. It's also widely used in chats and at work to mean "got it" or "noted".

💬 收到 literally means "received", and 了 marks it as done. You'll hear 收到 on its own as a quick "got it" in messages and at counters.

🇨🇳 Baristas and servers say this constantly. It's polite but routine, so a nod or 好的 (hǎo de) "okay" is all you need back.

💬 好 after a verb means the action is finished, so 做好 is "done making". The same pattern works with other verbs, like 写好了 "finished writing".

🇨🇳 In many Chinese cafés they'll call your order number or the last digits of your phone, not your name. Listen for numbers, or watch the screen if there is one.

💬 Literally "please use slowly". 慢 (màn) "slowly" here means "take your time and enjoy", not that you're eating too fast.

🇨🇳 Staff say this as they hand over food or drinks. You don't need to reply, though a quick 谢谢 is friendly.

🇨🇳 Saying this to a barista or delivery rider acknowledges their effort. It comes across as warm and considerate rather than formal, and it's widely used with service workers.