
Top 50 phrases to get by Taiwan: Dining out
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Key Phrases
菜單
cài dān
Menu
我要這個
wǒ yào zhè gè
I want this
夜市
yè shì
Night market
Skills You'll Learn
Ordering food
點餐
diǎn cān
Indicating preferences
表達偏好
biǎo dá piān hǎo
Exploring cultural destinations
探索文化景點
tàn suǒ wén huà jǐng diǎn
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
菜單
cài dān
Menu
💬 Pronounced as (tsai-dan). Remember, many menus in Taiwan might have pictures!
🇹🇼 In many Taiwanese restaurants, especially night markets, the menu might be on the wall.
See breakdown →水
shuǐ
Water
💬 Pronounced as (shui). You can ask for it hot or cold.
🇹🇼 Tap water is generally not drunk directly; bottled or boiled water is preferred.
See breakdown →啤酒
pí jiǔ
Beer
💬 Pronounced as (pee-jyo). Taiwanese love local brands like Taiwan Beer.
🇹🇼 Beer at a restaurant is often shared by pouring into small glasses among friends.
See breakdown →茶
chá
Tea
💬 Pronounced as (cha). Tea is more than a drink, it's a culture in Taiwan.
🇹🇼 Taiwan is famous for its High Mountain Oolong tea. Don't miss trying some!
See breakdown →珍珠奶茶
zhēn zhū nǎi chá
Bubble tea
💬 Pronounced as (zhen-joo nai-cha). It's also called 'boba'.
🇹🇼 Bubble tea originated in Taiwan and has become a sensation worldwide!
See breakdown →我要這個
wǒ yào zhè gè
I want this
💬 Pronounced as (wo yao zhe-ge). Useful when pointing at menu items!
🇹🇼 Sometimes pointing is just as effective as speaking; body language is key.
See breakdown →好吃
hǎo chī
Delicious
💬 Pronounced as (hao-chi). Perfect for complimenting the chef!
🇹🇼 Taiwanese cuisine is known for its flavors, so you'll use this phrase often.
See breakdown →不要辣
bú yào là
Not spicy
💬 Pronounced as (bu yao la). Essential if you can't handle heat!
🇹🇼 Spice levels vary greatly; it’s good to know your limits.
See breakdown →買單
mǎi dān
Check please
💬 Pronounced as (mai-dan). Signal when you're ready to pay.
🇹🇼 It's common to approach the counter to pay in Taiwan.
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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