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Scene illustrating a Simplified Chinese-language ordering a coffee conversation
Lesson

Ordering a coffee: The style of coffee, such as espresso, latte, cappuccino, Americano, mocha, etc.

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Key Phrases

你好

nǐ hǎo

Hello

什么样的

shén me yàng de

What kind of

请稍等一会儿

qǐng shāo děng yī huì er

Wait a moment

Skills You'll Learn

Greeting in Chinese

用中文问候

yòng zhōng wén wèn hòu

Ordering coffee in Chinese

用中文点咖啡

yòng zhōng wén diǎn kā fēi

Asking for wait time in Chinese

用中文询问等待时间

yòng zhōng wén xún wèn děng dài shí jiān

Lesson Roleplay

Imagine you are in a coffee shop in China. You want to order a cup of coffee and have a conversation with the barista about your preferences. The interaction involves choosing the type of coffee, the size, and asking about payment options, all in Mandarin.

你好,需要点什么?

nǐ hǎo xū yào diǎn shén me

Hello, what do you need?

你好,我可以点一杯咖啡吗?

nǐ hǎo wǒ kě yǐ diǎn yī bēi kā fēi ma

Hi, can I order a cup of coffee?

当然可以。你想要什么样的咖啡?

dāng rán kě yǐ nǐ xiǎng yào shén me yàng de kā fēi

Certainly. What kind of coffee would you like?

有拿铁咖啡吗?

yǒu ná tiě kā fēi ma

Do you have a latte?

有的,你要中杯还是大杯?

yǒu de nǐ yào zhōng bēi hái shì dà bēi

Yes, would you like a medium or large?

Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases

👤

You

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👍

hǎo

Good

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👋

你好

nǐ hǎo

Hello

🇨🇳 [你好] is fine and polite, but in many real coffee-shop interactions people may skip it and go straight to the order. Staff often open with [你好], and you can answer with [你好] or just your order.

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🆘

Need

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🙋

yào

Want

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🆘

需要

xū yào

Need

💬 [需要] is more like "need" than "want." For ordering, [要] is often the more natural everyday choice: [我要一杯拿铁] = "I want a latte."

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什么

shén me

What

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🤲

Can

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🤔

Possible

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🚀

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