Lesson 23: Dinning
Shopping is one of the "must do" things in China. However, other than bargain for a good price, knowing the right dialog for choosing the right product is extremely important. This lesson will teach you some simple sentences in shopping for clothes in Chinese.
Vocabulary:
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Pronunciation | English Translation | |
| 位 | wèi | throne; position, post; rank, status; seat | ||
| 位子 | wèi zi | seat; position | ||
| 半斤 | bàn jīn | 1/4 kilogram = 200 gram | ||
| 半 | bàn | half | ||
| 斤 | jīn | a catty (approximately 500 g), 1/2 kg | ||
| 饺子 | jiǎo zi | stuffed dumplings | ||
| 饺 | jiǎo | stuffed dumplings | ||
| 韭菜 | jiǔ cài | scallion, leek; Chinese chive | ||
| 韭 | jiǔ | scallion, leek | ||
| 菜 | cài | vegetables; dish, order; food | ||
| 馅 | xiàn | filling, stuffing; secret | ||
| 家常 | jiā cháng | home made; popular | ||
| 常 | cháng | common, normal, frequent, regular | ||
| 豆腐 | dòu fu | tofu | ||
| 豆 | dòu | beans, peas; bean-shaped | ||
| 腐 | fǔ | rot, decay, spoil; rotten | ||
| 素炒 | sù chǎo | vegetarian stir fried | ||
| 素 | sù | white (silk); plain; vegetarian; formerly; normally | ||
| 炒 | chǎo | fry, saute, roast, boil, cook | ||
| 小白菜 | xiǎo bái cài | Shanghai cabbage | ||
| 白 | bái | white | ||
| 碗 | wǎn | bowl, small dish | ||
| 酸辣汤 | suān là tāng | sweat and sour soup | ||
| 酸 | suān | tart, sour; acid; stiff; spoiled | ||
| 辣 | là | peppery, pungent, hot; cruel | ||
| 汤 | tāng | hot water; soup, gravy, broth | ||
| 放 | fàng | put, release, free, liberate | ||
| 味精 | wèi jīng | MSG (a food additive to enhance flavor) | ||
| 味 | wèi | taste, smell, odor; delicacy | ||
| 精 | jīng | essence; semen; spirit | ||
| 喝 | hē | drink; shout, call out | ||
| 一瓶 | yì píng | one bottle | ||
| 瓶 | píng | jug, pitcher, vase, jar, bottle | ||
| 啤酒 | pí jiǔ | beer | ||
| 啤 | pí | beer | ||
| 酒 | jiǔ | wine, spirits, liquor, alcoholic beverage | ||
| 一杯 | yì bēi | one cup | ||
| 杯 | bēi | cup, glass | ||
| 可乐 | kě lè | cola | ||
| 可 | kě | may, can, -able; possibly | ||
| 乐 | lè | happy, glad; enjoyable; music | ||
| 别的 | bié de | other | ||
| 别 | bié | separate, other; do not | ||
| 些 | xiē | little, few; rather, somewhat | ||
| 饿 | è | hungry; greedy for; hunger | ||
| 快点儿 | kuài diǎnr | hurry up; quickly | ||
| 快 | kuài | rapid, quick, speedy, fast; soon | ||
Tips:
- "Jiao Zi" = "Dumplings" is one of the most common but also delicious food in china. Many restaurant offer them. They come with many different kinds of fillings. One of the most common one is "Jiu Cai" = "Chinese Chives". However, many westerners are not used to the smell or taste of the chive, therefore, order with caution. Dumplings are often offered in weights, not plates. So you often say "Ban Jin" = "0.5 KG", which would be roughly 20-30 dumplings, good enough for one adult.
- You MUST clarify yourself in every restaurant if you wish not to have MSG = "Bu Yao Wei Jing". Because almost every single restaurant in China would put MSN into almost every single dish they offer. So, if you are concerned or allergic to MSG, say it out clearly.
- Beer is extremely cheap in China, however, they normally do not contain as much alcohol as the ones in the rest of the world. Most of the local beers contain 1-3% of alcohol. But the are just as refreshing as other beer. So, if you are not against drinking, try some local beer wouldn't be a bad idea.
- Sweet and sour soup is actually called "sour and spicy soup" in Chinese (Suan La Tang)
Dialog:
Click to hear the above dialog.
English Translation :
A: Hi there, how many?
B: Two. Any more seats?
A: Yes, please follow me. How about here?
B: Ok. Thanks.
A: What would you (two) like to order today?
B: Give us half "jin" (close to 1/2 lb) dumplings, with chive fillings.
A: Anything else?
B: Some home style tofu. And some veggies, like Shanghai cabbage? A couple of sweet and sour soup, no MSG please.
A: Ok, anything to drink?
B: One bottle of beer and on glass of Coke cola.
A: Ok, anything else?
B: No, this should be enough. We are hungary, please hurry up with the food.
A: No problem.
Chinese Calligraphy:
Questions and Comments
