PrettyFluent
This is just a lesson preview. Get the interactive lesson free on PrettyFluent
Scene illustrating a Simplified Chinese-language restaurant reservations conversation
Lesson

Restaurant reservations: Setting preferences for seating, such as indoor, outdoor, or specific views.

Get Full Lesson
Practice pronunciation and master this lesson with smart-repetition via the PrettyFluent App

Key Phrases

订今晚的晚餐

dìng jīn wǎn de wǎn cān

Make a dinner reservation for tonight

您想几点到?六点半,四个人

nín xiǎng jǐ diǎn dào liù diǎn bàn sì gè rén

What time would you like to arrive? Six thirty, for four people

如果可以的话,坐室外,安静一点的位置,最好靠窗,看看夜景或江景

rú guǒ kě yǐ de huà zuò shì wài ān jìng yì diǎn de wèi zhì zuì hǎo kào chuāng kàn kàn yè jǐng huò jiāng jǐng

If possible, outdoors in a quieter spot, preferably by the window with a night or river view

Skills You'll Learn

How to make a restaurant reservation in polite Chinese

如何用礼貌的中文预订餐厅晚餐

rú hé yòng lǐ mào de zhōng wén yù dìng cān tīng wǎn cān

How to say arrival time and number of people for a booking

如何表达到达时间和用餐人数

rú hé biǎo dá dào dá shí jiān hé yòng cān rén shù

How to express seating preferences such as indoor/outdoor, quiet seating, window seats, and scenic views

如何提出座位偏好,如室内或室外、安静一点、靠窗以及景观座位

rú hé tí chū zuò wèi piān hǎo rú shì nèi huò shì wài ān jìng yì diǎn kào chuāng yǐ jí jǐng guān zuò wèi

Lesson Roleplay

Imagine you are calling a restaurant in China to make a dinner reservation for tonight. You discuss the time, the number of people, whether you want indoor or outdoor seating, and ask for a quiet table with a nice night view.

你好,我想订今晚的晚餐。

nǐ hǎo wǒ xiǎng dìng jīn wǎn de wǎn cān

Hello, I’d like to make a dinner reservation for tonight.

好的,您想几点到?

hǎo de nín xiǎng jǐ diǎn dào

Sure, what time would you like to arrive?

六点半,四个人。

liù diǎn bàn sì gè rén

At 6:30, for four people.

没问题,您想坐室内还是室外?

méi wèn tí nín xiǎng zuò shì nèi hái shì shì wài

No problem. Would you like to sit indoors or outdoors?

如果可以的话,我想坐室外。

rú guǒ kě yǐ de huà wǒ xiǎng zuò shì wài

If possible, I’d like to sit outdoors.

Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases

📅✍️

dìng

To reserve / book

See breakdown →
🍽️

晚餐

wǎn cān

Dinner

See breakdown →
🍽️📅✍️

订晚餐

dìng wǎn cān

Make a dinner reservation

💬 [订] is the verb 'book/reserve,' and Chinese often just puts the thing being booked right after it: [订晚餐], [订位子], [订一桌]. No extra word like 'for' or 'a' is needed.

See breakdown →
🌙

今晚

jīn wǎn

Tonight

See breakdown →

de

Of / -'s

💬 [的] often turns a time phrase into something like 'for...' or 'the...one': [今晚] → [今晚的]. You can reuse this with other times too, like [明天的预约] 'tomorrow's reservation'.

See breakdown →
🌙

今晚的

jīn wǎn de

For tonight

💬 [今晚的] is a time phrase plus [的], which lets it describe a noun that may be understood from context. In reservation talk, [今晚的] can mean 'tonight's one' or 'for tonight' without repeating the full noun.

See breakdown →
🙏

nín

You (polite)

💬 [您] is the polite version of [你]. You'll hear it a lot from staff speaking to customers, and you can use it back for extra politeness.

See breakdown →
🤝

xiǎng

Want to / would like to

See breakdown →

几点

jǐ diǎn

What time

💬 [几点] asks 'what time' for a clock time: [您想几点到?] You can swap in other verbs after it, like [几点开始?] or [几点关门?]

See breakdown →
🚀

Learn this vocabulary list the easy way

Get PrettyFluent for smart practice & lasting retention

More from "Restaurant reservations"

Similar Simplified Chinese Lessons

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Download PrettyFluent on the App StoreGet Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

Shanghai business dinners require real Mandarin skills. This app’s scenario-based approach meant I could keep up with clients after just a month of practice.

Ryan M., 36, Consultant

Spent three months in Taiwan and this app was my lifeline. The tonal practice with real scenarios helped me sound less like a textbook and more like a person.

Laura H., 28, Photographer

Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer