Restaurant reservations Part 3: Requesting accommodations for special occasions, such as birthdays or anniversaries.
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Key Phrases
我想訂位。
wǒ xiǎng dìng wèi
I'd like to reserve a table.
如果可以的話，想要安靜一點的位置。
rú guǒ kě yǐ de huà xiǎng yào ān jìng yī diǎn de wèi zhì
We'd like a quieter table, if possible.
需要另外收費嗎？
xū yào lìng wài shōu fèi ma
Is there an additional charge?
Skills You'll Learn
How to make a restaurant reservation for a specific day and evening time
如何預約特定日期和晚上的餐廳訂位
rú hé yù yuē tè dìng rì qī hé wǎn shàng de cān tīng dìng wèi
How to explain the number of guests and mention a birthday celebration
如何說明用餐人數並提到要慶祝生日
rú hé shuō míng yòng cān rén shù bìng tí dào yào qìng zhù shēng rì
How to request seating preferences and ask about surprise or extra service fees
如何提出座位需求，並詢問驚喜安排或額外服務是否需要收費
rú hé tí chū zuò wèi xū qiú bìng xún wèn jīng xǐ ān pái huò é wài fú wù shì fǒu xū yào shōu fèi
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are calling a restaurant in Taiwan to book a table for Saturday night. You are reserving for four people to celebrate your wife’s birthday, and you want a quiet seat and a small birthday surprise.
你好，我想訂星期六晚上的位子。
nǐ hǎo wǒ xiǎng dìng xīng qī liù wǎn shàng de wèi zi
Hello, I’d like to reserve a table for Saturday evening.
好的，請問幾位用餐呢？
hǎo de qǐng wèn jǐ wèi yòng cān ne
Sure, how many people will be dining?
四位，我們要慶祝我太太的生日。
sì wèi wǒ men yào qìng zhù wǒ tài tài de shēng rì
Four people. We’re celebrating my wife’s birthday.
好溫馨喔，請問您想要靠窗或安靜一點的位置嗎？
hǎo wēn xīn ō qǐng wèn nín xiǎng yào kào chuāng huò ān jìng yī diǎn de wèi zhì ma
How lovely. Would you prefer a window seat or a quieter table?
如果可以的話，想要安靜一點，也希望有小小的生日驚喜。
rú guǒ kě yǐ de huà xiǎng yào ān jìng yī diǎn yě xī wàng yǒu xiǎo xiǎo de shēng rì jīng xǐ
If possible, we’d like a quieter spot, and we’d also appreciate a small birthday surprise.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
訂位
dìng wèi
Reserve a table
💬 [訂位] is the usual Taiwan word for reserving a table at a restaurant. You can reuse it with time details, like [訂星期六晚上七點] for "book Saturday at 7 p.m.".
See breakdown →星期六
xīng qī liù
Saturday
晚上
wǎn shàng
Evening; night
星期六晚上
xīng qī liù wǎn shàng
Saturday evening
我想
wǒ xiǎng
I want to; I'd like to
💬 [我想] often softens what follows, so it can sound more polite than a direct "I want." You can use the same pattern with another verb: [我想改時間] "I'd like to change the time."
See breakdown →我想訂位。
wǒ xiǎng dìng wèi
I'd like to reserve a table.
💬 [想] before a verb is a very common way to make a request sound softer: [我想訂位] is less blunt than just [我要訂位]. Swap in another action, like [我想改成四位] "I'd like to change it to four people."
See breakdown →請問
qǐng wèn
May I ask; excuse me
🇹🇼 [請問] is a very common soft opener when talking to staff in Taiwan. It doesn't literally add content, but it makes your question sound more polite and natural.
See breakdown →幾位
jǐ wèi
How many people
💬 [位] is a polite counting word for people, often used by staff with customers. Compare [幾個人] "how many people?" with [幾位], which sounds more courteous.
See breakdown →請問幾位？
qǐng wèn jǐ wèi
How many people?
💬 For asking party size, Taiwanese staff often use [幾位] rather than [幾個人]. The pattern is easy to reuse with numbers too: [四位] for "four people."
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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