Restaurant reservations Part 2: Understanding cancellation policies and deadlines.
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Key Phrases
我想確認今晚的訂位。
wǒ xiǎng què rèn jīn wǎn de dìng wèi
I'd like to confirm tonight's reservation.
請問是您的名字嗎？
qǐng wèn shì nín de míng zì ma
May I have your name?
如果不能去，可以取消嗎？
rú guǒ bù néng qù kě yǐ qǔ xiāo ma
If I can't make it, can I cancel?
Skills You'll Learn
Confirm a restaurant reservation by giving the time and number of guests.
用時間和人數確認餐廳訂位。
yòng shí jiān hé rén shù què rèn cān tīng dìng wèi
Respond to staff questions with your name and reservation details.
回答店員的問題，提供姓名和訂位資訊。
huí dá diàn yuán de wèn tí tí gōng xìng míng hé dìng wèi zī xùn
Ask about cancellation deadlines and possible cancellation fees.
詢問取消期限和可能收取的取消費。
xún wèn qǔ xiāo qī xiàn hé kě néng shōu qǔ de qǔ xiāo fèi
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are calling a restaurant to confirm your dinner reservation, give your name and time, and ask about the cancellation policy in case your plans change.
你好，我想確認一下今晚的訂位。
nǐ hǎo wǒ xiǎng què rèn yī xià jīn wǎn de dìng wèi
Hello, I’d like to confirm tonight’s reservation.
好的，請問是您的名字嗎？
hǎo de qǐng wèn shì nín de míng zì ma
Sure, may I have your name?
對，是 Emily Smith ，晚上七點兩位。
duì shì ^FIRST^ ^LAST^ wǎn shàng qī diǎn liǎng wèi
Yes, it’s Emily Smith, for two people at 7:00 pm.
有的，我幫您查到了。
yǒu de wǒ bāng nín chá dào le
Yes, I found it for you.
如果臨時不能去，可以取消嗎？
rú guǒ lín shí bù néng qù kě yǐ qǔ xiāo ma
If I can’t make it at the last minute, can I cancel?
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
確認
què rèn
Confirm
訂位
dìng wèi
Reservation
💬 [訂位] is the Taiwan word for making a restaurant reservation. You'll also see it in set phrases like [確認訂位] or [取消訂位].
See breakdown →確認訂位
què rèn dìng wèi
Confirm the reservation
今晚
jīn wǎn
Tonight
的
de
Of; possessive particle
💬 [的] links a description to a noun: [今晚的訂位] is "tonight's reservation," literally "tonight + [的] + reservation." You can reuse the pattern with time or people too, like [明天的位子] or [我的名字].
See breakdown →今晚的訂位
jīn wǎn de dìng wèi
Tonight's reservation
我想
wǒ xiǎng
I want to; I'd like to
💬 [我想] often softens what you say, so it can mean "I'd like to," not just a strong "I want to." In service situations, [我想確認] sounds more natural than a blunt direct request.
See breakdown →我想確認
wǒ xiǎng què rèn
I'd like to confirm
請問
qǐng wèn
May I ask
🇹🇼 [請問] is a very common polite opener in Taiwan when asking staff a question. It doesn't sound stiff; it's the normal friendly way to begin.
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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