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How to Say ‘Would you like to sit inside or outside?’ in Simplified Chinese

您想坐里面还是外面？

nín xiǎng zuò lǐ miàn hái shì wài miàn

[neen shyang dzwo lee-myen high-shir wàimiàn]

🇨🇳 In China: Staff use the polite 您 (nín) "you" with customers. You can just answer 里面 or 外面 without repeating the verb.

Phrase Breakdown

您想坐里面

nín xiǎng zuò lǐ miàn

Would you like to sit inside

This is a polite question about where the guest wants to sit. Say it smoothly before 还是.

Example

您想坐里面吗？

Would you like to sit inside?

Words in this phrase

您

nín

[neen]

you (polite)

A respectful form of “you,” used when speaking politely to someone, such as a recruiter or company representative.

Example

很高兴认识您，希望向您多学习。

It’s a pleasure to meet you; I hope to learn more from you.

想

xiǎng

[shyang]

want to; would like to

Used to politely express what you want to do.

Example

我想订桌。

I want to reserve a table.

坐

zuò

[dzwo]

to sit

坐 means to sit, and in restaurant context it often refers to where you want to be seated.

Example

我想坐靠窗的位置。

I want to sit in a window-side seat.

里面

lǐ miàn

[lee-myen]

inside; inner area

The interior part of a space, such as deeper inside a restaurant.

Example

靠里面会安静一点。

Further inside will be a bit quieter.

还是外面？

hái shì wài miàn

or outside?

还是 (háishi) means 'or' in questions that offer a choice. 外面 (wàimiàn) means 'outside'.

Example

你要茶还是咖啡？

Do you want tea or coffee?

Words in this phrase

还是

hái shì

[high-shir]

Used in questions to offer alternatives, such as indoor or outdoor seating.

Example

您想坐室内还是室外？

Would you like to sit indoors or outdoors?

外面

wài miàn

[wàimiàn]

outside; outdoors

The area outside a building; used for outdoor seating.

Example

我们坐外面吧。

Let's sit outside.

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