Restaurant reservations Part 2: Understanding cancellation policies and deadlines.
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Key Phrases
订位取消的规定
dìng wèi qǔ xiāo de guī dìng
Reservation cancellation policy
一般要在前一天晚上八点前取消。
yì bān yào zài qián yī tiān wǎn shàng bā diǎn qián qǔ xiāo
Generally, you need to cancel by 8:00 pm the day before.
如果还有位子，改时间通常没问题。
rú guǒ hái yǒu wèi zi gǎi shí jiān tōng cháng méi wèn tí
If there are still seats, changing the time is usually fine.
Skills You'll Learn
Ask about a restaurant's cancellation policy.
询问餐厅的取消规定。
xún wèn cān tīng de qǔ xiāo guī dìng
Find out the latest time to cancel if you can't make it.
如果临时不能来，询问最晚什么时候可以取消。
rú guǒ lín shí bù néng lái xún wèn zuì wǎn shén me shí hòu kě yǐ qǔ xiāo
Ask whether changing the reservation time counts as a cancellation.
询问改时间算不算取消。
xún wèn gǎi shí jiān suàn bù suàn qǔ xiāo
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are calling a restaurant to ask about its reservation cancellation policy, including the latest time to cancel, possible same-day cancellation fees, and whether changing the time counts as a cancellation.
你好，我想问一下订位取消的规定。
nǐ hǎo wǒ xiǎng wèn yī xià dìng wèi qǔ xiāo de guī dìng
Hello, I’d like to ask about the reservation cancellation policy.
您好，当然可以，您是想了解取消时间吗？
nín hǎo dāng rán kě yǐ nín shì xiǎng liǎo jiě qǔ xiāo shí jiān ma
Hello, of course. Would you like to know the cancellation time?
对，如果我临时不能来，最晚什么时候取消？
duì rú guǒ wǒ lín shí bù néng lái zuì wǎn shén me shí hòu qǔ xiāo
Yes. If I can’t make it at the last minute, what’s the latest I can cancel?
一般要在用餐前一天晚上八点前取消。
yì bān yào zài yòng cān qián yī tiān wǎn shàng bā diǎn qián qǔ xiāo
Generally, you need to cancel by 8:00 pm. the day before your meal.
如果当天取消，会怎么样？
rú guǒ dàng tiān qǔ xiāo huì zěn me yàng
What happens if I cancel on the same day?
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
订位
dìng wèi
Make a reservation
💬 [订位] is a common way to say "make a reservation," especially for restaurants. You'll also see [订位取消] for reservation cancellation and [订位时间] for reservation time.
See breakdown →取消
qǔ xiāo
Cancel
规定
guī dìng
Rules
订位取消的规定
dìng wèi qǔ xiāo de guī dìng
Reservation cancellation policy
💬 [的] links the topic to the noun after it: [订位取消的规定] is literally "the rules of reservation cancellation." You can reuse this pattern with other policies, like [退票的规定] for ticket refund rules.
See breakdown →我想
wǒ xiǎng
I want to
💬 [我想] often softens what you say, not just "I want." In service situations, [我想问一下] sounds more polite than a direct question by itself.
See breakdown →问一下
wèn yī xià
Ask a little
💬 [一下] often softens an action so it sounds lighter and more polite, not literally "one time." You can use it with lots of verbs: [看一下] "take a quick look," [等一下] "wait a moment."
See breakdown →我想问一下
wǒ xiǎng wèn yī xià
I'd like to ask
💬 [我想问一下] is a very useful polite opener before a question. The [一下] makes it sound less abrupt, like "I'd just like to ask..."
See breakdown →当然
dāng rán
Of course
可以
kě yǐ
Can / okay
💬 [可以] can mean both "can" and "it's okay." In replies like [当然可以], it means permission or willingness: "of course that's fine."
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