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How to Say ‘Half sugar, light ice for the bubble tea.’ in Traditional Chinese

珍奶要半糖少冰喔。

zhēn nǎi yào bàn táng shǎo bīng ō

[zhēnnǎi yao bàn táng shaow bīng oh]

🇹🇼 In Taiwan: Taiwanese drink shops let you set sugar and ice levels, and people state them every time. 半糖 "half sugar" and 少冰 "less ice" are among the most common orders. Also try 微糖 "slightly sweet" or 去冰 "no ice".

Phrase Breakdown

珍奶要

zhēn nǎi yào

the bubble tea should be

Here 要 means 'should be / I want it to be', used when ordering.

Example

珍奶要大杯的。

Make the bubble tea a large one.

Words in this phrase

珍奶

zhēn nǎi

[zhēnnǎi]

bubble milk tea

Short for 珍珠奶茶, pearl milk tea, Taiwan's famous drink.

Example

這家的珍奶很有名。

This shop's bubble tea is famous.

要

yào

[yao]

want

Used to say what someone wants or would like.

Example

你要大杯、中杯，還是小杯？

Do you want a large, medium, or small cup?

半糖少冰喔。

bàn táng shǎo bīng ō

half sugar, less ice, OK?

半糖 (bàn táng) means 'half sugar' and 少冰 (shǎo bīng) means 'less ice'. These are standard drink-shop terms in Taiwan. 喔 is a friendly reminder.

Example

我的紅茶要半糖少冰。

My black tea, half sugar and less ice.

Words in this phrase

半

bàn

[bàn]

half

One of two equal parts that together constitute a whole.

Example

他喝了一半杯子裡的水。

He drank half of the water in the cup.

糖

táng

[táng]

sugar

Sweet crystalline substance used to sweeten foods and drinks.

Example

我要在咖啡裡加糖。

I want to add sugar to my coffee.

少

shǎo

[shaow]

less; little

Used to request a reduced amount of something.

Example

這個飲料少冰就可以。

Less ice is fine for this drink.

冰

bīng

[bīng]

ice

Frozen water, used to cool things.

Example

我想要冰。

I want ice.

喔

[oh]

oh; sentence-softening particle

Adds a friendly, relaxed tone to responses like 好喔.

Example

可以做熱的喔。

We can make it hot, okay.

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