Restaurant reservations Part 3 (Advanced): Asking about any ongoing promotions or special menus.

💬 起來 (qǐ lái) after a sense verb means "seems, based on that sense". Swap the verb: 看起來不錯 "looks good", 吃起來不錯 "tastes good".

💬 At the start of a sentence, 這樣 (zhè yàng), literally "this way", works as "in that case" or "if so", picking up whatever was just said.

💬 Here 還 (hái) means "still", not "also". 還有優惠嗎？ asks if the deal still applies after a change, which is different from asking about more deals.

💬 以上 (yǐ shàng) after a number includes that number: "four or more", not "more than four". Its opposite is 以下 (yǐ xià) "or fewer".

🇹🇼 了解 (liǎo jiě) is the standard polite "got it" in service conversations in Taiwan, from both staff and customers.

💬 位 (wèi) is the polite counting word for people, so prices and party sizes use it: 三位 "three people". Here 一 is said (yí) because 位 has a falling tone.

🇹🇼 Staff will ask 幾位？ "how many people?" Answering with 位 instead of 個 sounds natural and polite.

💬 Prices drop the verb entirely: 一位大概多少 is just "per person, roughly how much". The opening 那 (nà) means "then" or "so", linking back to what was said.

🇹🇼 Look for a 卍 sign or the words 素食 on a shopfront in Taiwan. They mark a fully vegetarian restaurant, and these are found everywhere.

💬 Putting a verb and its negative side by side, 有沒有 (yǒu méi yǒu), makes a yes/no question with no 嗎 needed. Also 可不可以 "can or not" and 是不是 "is it or not".

💬 Prices usually drop the last unit word: 六百八 (liù bǎi bā) means 680, not 608. For 608 you'd say 六百零八, with 零 (líng) "zero" holding the empty spot.

🇹🇼 Prices are in New Taiwan dollars, and many restaurants add a 10% service charge on top of the listed price.

💬 前一天 (qián yì tiān) means "the day before" a specific event, unlike 昨天 "yesterday". Here 一 is said (yì) because 天 has a level tone.

💬 先 (xiān) before a verb means doing it ahead of time or first. It's an easy way to say "in advance": 先付錢 "pay first".

🇹🇼 Restaurants often need a day's notice for special diets or set menus because they prepare ingredients ahead.

💬 Taiwanese casually say 週六 (zhōu liù) for Saturday, numbering weekdays from Monday as 週一 onward. Sunday is the exception: 週日 (zhōu rì).

💬 Chinese puts the part of the day before the clock time, from big to small. So it's 晚上 "evening" + 七點, and likewise 早上九點 "9 am" or 中午十二點 "12 noon".

💬 Time goes from biggest to smallest: day, then part of day, then hour. Also 明天中午十二點 "tomorrow at twelve noon".

💬 In 吃素 the action word 吃 is built in, so you say 我吃素 "I'm vegetarian" with no 是 needed.

🇹🇼 Vegetarianism is common in Taiwan, often for Buddhist reasons, so staff understand 吃素 immediately. Some people eat vegetarian only on certain days, so the restaurant may ask exactly what you avoid.

💬 吃素 (chī sù), literally "eat plain", is the everyday way to say "is vegetarian". It works as a verb, so no 是 is needed.

🇹🇼 Vegetarianism is common in Taiwan, often for Buddhist reasons, and 素 usually also excludes garlic, onions and leeks. Say 我吃蛋奶素 if you eat eggs and dairy.

💬 Put 請問 in front of almost any question to make it polite, like 請問廁所在哪裡？ "Excuse me, where's the restroom?" You'll hear it constantly from both staff and customers.

💬 貴姓 (guì xìng), literally "honorable surname", is the polite way to ask someone's family name. You answer simply with 我姓…, never with 貴.

🇹🇼 Taiwanese restaurants take bookings under your surname plus 先生 or 小姐. Giving only your family name is completely normal.

💬 Starting a request with 方便 (fāng biàn) asks "is it convenient for you to…". It's a gentle way to ask someone to do something.

💬 Phone numbers are counted with 支 (zhī), not 個. The word 方便 (fāng biàn) "convenient" is used to soften requests: 方便...嗎？ "would it be convenient to...?"

🇹🇼 Restaurants almost always ask for a number when taking a booking and may call or text to confirm the day before.

💬 姓 (xìng) works as a verb meaning "to be surnamed", so no 是 is needed. Just say 我姓 plus your surname.

💬 份 (fèn) is the counting word for portions and orders of food: 兩份炒飯 "two orders of fried rice". Here 一 is said (yí) because 份 has a falling tone.

💬 幫 (bāng) before an action means doing it on someone's behalf, "for you", not literally helping. 您 (nín) is the polite form of 你 (nǐ).

🇹🇼 Service staff routinely address customers as 您 and frame their work as 幫您…. Customers can just use 你 back.

💬 好 (hǎo) after a verb means the action is finished and taken care of. Also 準備好了 "all prepared" and 寫好了 "done writing".

💬 Put a time before 見 (jiàn) to say "see you then": 明天見 "see you tomorrow", 晚上見 "see you tonight".