Ordering a coffee Part 2: Options such as type of milk, depending on dietary preferences or allergies.
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Key Phrases
我可以要
wǒ kě yǐ yào
Can I have
需要什麼？
xū yào shén me
What do you need?
謝謝
xiè xiè
Thank you
Skills You'll Learn
Ordering coffee in a cafe
在咖啡店點咖啡
zài kā fēi diàn diǎn kā fēi
Specifying dietary preferences
說明飲食偏好
shuō míng yǐn shí piān hǎo
Responding to service
回應服務
huí yīng fú wù
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you're at a coffee shop and you're ordering a coffee. The barista greets you and asks about your milk preference, offering options like whole, skim, or soy milk. You choose soy milk due to a dairy allergy. The barista then inquires if you’d like your coffee hot or iced, and you opt for a hot soy milk coffee. They proceed to ask if you want any sugar or condiments, to which you reply no, preferring it plain. The barista confirms your order and assures you that it will be ready shortly.
你好，請問需要什麼？
nǐ hǎo qǐng wèn xū yào shén me
Hello, how can I help you?
你好，我想點一杯咖啡。
nǐ hǎo wǒ xiǎng diǎn yī bēi kā fēi
Hi, I'd like to order a coffee.
請問您要哪種牛奶？我們有全脂、脫脂或豆奶。
qǐng wèn nín yào nǎ zhǒng niú nǎi wǒ men yǒu quán zhī tuō zhī huò dòu nǎi
What kind of milk would you like? We have whole, skim, or soy milk.
我可以要豆奶嗎？我對乳製品過敏。
wǒ kě yǐ yào dòu nǎi ma wǒ duì rǔ zhì pǐn guò mǐn
Can I have soy milk? I'm allergic to dairy.
沒問題，您想要熱咖啡還是冰咖啡？
méi wèn tí nín xiǎng yào rè kā fēi hái shì bīng kā fēi
No problem, would you like a hot coffee or iced coffee?
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
你
nǐ
You
💬 This is the informal 'you' used in everyday conversation.
🇹🇼 In Taiwan, using formal vs. informal language depends on social context not just familiarity.
See breakdown →好
hǎo
Good
💬 Pronounced (hao), this word can be a standalone or combined with other words like [你好].
🇹🇼 Commonly used in greetings, as it conveys a positive tone.
See breakdown →你好
nǐ hǎo
Hello
💬 Literally means 'you good'. A simple greeting used any time of the day.
🇹🇼 A staple phrase for politeness in both casual and formal settings.
See breakdown →需要
xū yào
Need
💬 Pronounced (shee-yow), often used in both questions and answers.
🇹🇼 Politeness is key, so it's common to use this with [請] (please).
See breakdown →什麼
shén me
What
💬 Pronounced (shuh-muh), the 'muh' sound has a quick, soft ending.
🇹🇼 Used frequently in daily questions and curiosity-driven conversations.
See breakdown →需要什麼？
xū yào shén me
What do you need?
💬 A commonly used question in service settings when asking for specifics.
🇹🇼 Using [需要] without [什麼] implies the question ‘Do you need this?’
See breakdown →我
wǒ
I
💬 Pronounced (woh), simple and versatile for self-reference.
🇹🇼 Cultural contexts often value humility when talking about oneself.
See breakdown →想
xiǎng
Want
💬 Pronounced (shyang), slightly nasal tone.
🇹🇼 Used casually when expressing desires or wishes.
See breakdown →點
diǎn
Order
💬 Pronounced (dian3), the tonal mark is important here.
🇹🇼 Ordering food and drinks is a daily activity in Taiwanese culture.
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