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How to Say ‘Serving the dishes may be a little slower’ in Simplified Chinese

上菜可能稍微慢一点

shàng cài kě néng shāo wēi màn yì diǎn

[shàngcài kěnéng shāowēi màn ee-dyen]

🇨🇳 In China: Staff often warn you in advance when a special request will slow things down. A simple 没关系 "no problem" is the usual reply.

Phrase Breakdown

上菜可能

shàng cài kě néng

serving the dishes may

上菜 (shàng cài) means 'to serve dishes'. 可能 (kěnéng) means 'may / possibly'.

Example

上菜可能要等一会儿。

Serving may take a while.

Words in this phrase

上菜

shàng cài

[shàngcài]

to serve dishes

To bring food to the table in a restaurant.

Example

服务员，请快点上菜。

Waiter, please serve the food faster.

可能

kě néng

[kěnéng]

maybe; possibly

Expresses that something may happen.

Example

明天可能下雨。

It might rain tomorrow.

稍微慢一点

shāo wēi màn yì diǎn

be a little slower

稍微 (shāowēi) means 'slightly'. 慢一点 (màn yìdiǎn) means 'a bit slower'.

Example

今天人多，稍微慢一点。

There are many people today, so it's a bit slower.

Words in this phrase

稍微

shāo wēi

[shāowēi]

slightly; a little

Softens a statement, indicating a small degree.

Example

请稍微等一下。

Please wait a moment.

慢

màn

[màn]

slowly

Slow; in 慢走 a polite farewell meaning 'take care'.

Example

请慢点说。

Please speak more slowly.

一点

yì diǎn

[ee-dyen]

a little; a bit

Adds softness by meaning 'a little' or 'a bit' in degree or time.

Example

我们晚一点再联系吧。

Let’s contact each other a bit later.

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