💧🙏❓

How to Say ‘Can I have some water?’ in Traditional Chinese

可以給我一杯水嗎？

kě yǐ gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ ma

[kuh-yee gay wo ee bēi shuǐ ma]

💬 Usage Tip: 可以 (kě yǐ) + request + 嗎 is a soft, polite way to ask for something: 可以給我菜單嗎？ "could I have the menu?".

Phrase Breakdown

可以給我

kě yǐ gěi wǒ

can you give me

可以 (kěyǐ) means 'can' and 給我 (gěi wǒ) means 'give me'. Together they make a polite request.

Example

可以給我筷子嗎？

Can you give me chopsticks?

Words in this phrase

可以

kě yǐ

[kuh-yee]

can; may

Used to express ability, permission, or that something is possible.

Example

你如果想加這位主管的聯絡方式，現在可以先自我介紹。

If you want to add this manager's contact information, you can introduce yourself first now.

給

gěi

[gay]

to; for; give

Often used to indicate giving something to someone or doing something for someone.

Example

我可以把名片給你，方便之後聯絡。

I can give you my business card, so it will be convenient to contact me later.

我

wǒ

[wo]

I; me

The first-person pronoun used to talk about yourself.

Example

我想多了解你們公司的制度，所以先自我介紹。

I want to learn more about your company’s system, so I’ll introduce myself first.

一杯水嗎？

yī bēi shuǐ ma

a glass of water?

一杯水 (yì bēi shuǐ) means 'a glass of water', and 嗎 (ma) ends the question with a light, neutral tone.

Example

你要一杯水嗎？

Do you want a glass of water?

Words in this phrase

一

yī

[ee]

one; a/an

The number one; before a classifier or noun, it can mean one single item.

Example

一球就讓全場安靜了。

That one goal made the whole stadium go quiet.

杯

bēi

[bēi]

cup (measure word)

Measure word for drinks served in cups or glasses.

Example

我想喝一杯茶。

I want to drink a cup of tea.

水

shuǐ

[shuǐ]

water

Water; at restaurants often self-serve or served warm.

Example

我想喝水。

I want to drink water.

嗎

[ma]

question particle

A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.

Example

你喜歡這個活動嗎？

Do you like this event?

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