How to Order Multiple Items From a Menu

Learn how to order multiple items from a menu

Dialogue

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Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Chinese by ChineseClass101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to order two or more of something at a restaurant in Chinese.

For example, "Two of these." is

两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

Anna Xu is at the restaurant with her husband.

The server is ready to take their order, and approaches them.

Before you hear their conversation, let's preview some of its key components.

什么 (shénme)

"what"

什么

两 (liǎng)

"two"

两

Listen to the conversation, and focus on Anna ’s response.

Ready?

您要什么？(Nín yào shénme?)

两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

Once more with the English translation.

您要什么？(Nín yào shénme?)

“What would you like?”

两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

"Two of these."

Let’s break down the conversation.

Do you remember how the waiter says

"What would you like?"

您要什么？(Nín yào shénme?)

First is 您 (nín), the formal "you" when addressing people of higher social status, such as seniors and customers. 您 .. 您

Next is 要 (yào), "to want," or “to need," but translating as “would like,” in this context. 要 . 要.

After that is 什么 (shénme), "what." 什么 . 什么.

Together, 您要什么？ (Nín yào shénme?) literally, “You want what,” but translates as, "What would you like?"

您要什么？(Nín yào shénme?)

Let’s take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember how Anna says, "Two of these."

两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

First is 两 (liǎng), “two." This way of saying the number 2 is used before a measure word. 两 . 两.

Next is 份 (fèn), a measure word meaning "serving" or "order." 份 .份.

Together 两份 (liǎng fèn), “two orders.” : 两份.

After that is 这个 (zhèige), “this.” 这个 .这个

All together, 两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

“Two [orders] of these," but in more natural English, “Two of these.”

两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

Note: this pattern is the shortened form of:

我要两份这个 (Wǒ yào liǎng fèn zhèige.). "I would like two of these." 我要两份这个.

我 (wǒ), "I." 我 .我.

After that is 要 (yào), "would like," in this context. 要.

The speaker omits 我要 (wǒ yào) as it is understood from the conversation.

两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

The pattern is:

NUMBER 份这个。 (fèn zhèige.)

"NUMBER of these. "

NUMBER 份这个。

To use this pattern, simply replace the {NUMBER} placeholder with the number of items you're requesting.

Imagine you’d like three of something you don’t know the Chinese word for.

Three, 三 (sān). 三 . 三.

Say "Three of these."

Ready?

三份这个。(Sān fèn zhèige.)

"Three of these."

三份这个。(Sān fèn zhèige.)

When talking about a specific number of things in Chinese, not only do you need a number but also a measure word before the noun. For example, in our dialogue, we use the number 两 (liǎng), "two," plus the measure word 份 (fèn) "order" before the item.

In Chinese, there are hundreds of measure words for different types of things. A good measure word to start with for beginners is 个 (gè), which is a general measure word that goes with almost everything.

For example, 一个面包 (yí ge miànbāo), "one piece of bread," 两个香蕉 (liǎng ge xiāngjiāo), "two bananas," or 三个这个 (sān ge zhèige), "three of these."

Again, the key pattern is:

NUMBER 份这个。 (fèn zhèige.)

"NUMBER of these. "

NUMBER 份这个。

Let’s look at some more examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

“Two of these.”

两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

三份这个。(Sān fèn zhèige.)

“Three of these.”

三份这个。(Sān fèn zhèige.)

四份这个。(Sì fèn zhèige.)

“Four of these.”

四份这个。(Sì fèn zhèige.)

一份这个。(Yí fèn zhèige.)

“One of these.”

一份这个。(Yí fèn zhèige.)

要两份这个，和一份这个。(Yào liǎng fèn zhèige, hé yí fèn zhèige.)

“I would like two of these and one of these.”

要两份这个，和一份这个。(Yào liǎng fèn zhèige, hé yí fèn zhèige.)

Did you notice how the native speaker used a different pattern?

要两份这个，和一份这个。(Yào liǎng fèn zhèige, hé yí fèn zhèige.)

"[I] would like two of these and one of these.”

First is 要 (yào), a shortened form of 我要 (wǒ yào), "[I']d like." 要.

The speaker omitted the subject 我 (wǒ) "I", and used only the verb 要 (yào) "would like".

要两份这个 (Yào liǎng fèn zhèige). I’d like two of these. 要两份这个.

When pointing out multiple items, you can join them with the conjunction 和 (hé), meaning "and." 和. 和.

Pronunciation note: when 一, "one," is followed by a fourth tone, it changes to the second tone 一 (yí), such as 一份 (yí fèn). 一份.

Here is the variation pattern:

要 NUMBER 份这个，和 NUMBER 份这个。

(I)'d like NUMBER of these and NUMBER of these.

You should be aware of this pattern, but you won’t need it for this lesson.

Let's review the key vocabulary.

四 (sì) , “four,” 四 , 四.

三 (sān), "three," 三 , 三

一 (yī), “one,” 一 , 一.

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how to say the counter for "order" or "serving?"

份 (fèn)

And how to say “two orders” of something?

两份 (liǎng fèn)

And do you remember how Anna Xu says,

"Two of these."

两份这个。(Liǎng fèn zhèige.)

Do you remember how to say “What"?

什么 (shénme)

And the polite way to say “you”?

您 (nín)

Do you remember how the waiter says,

"What would you like?"

您要什么？ (Nín yào shénme?)

Do you remember how to say "three"?

三 (sān)

And how to say "four"?

四 (sì)

Do you remember how to say "one"?

一 (yī)

Let's practice.

Imagine you’re Jason Xu , and you’re at the coffee shop with two friends. Order “three of these.”

Ready?

您要什么？(Nín yào shénme?)

三份这个。(Sān fèn zhèige.)

Listen again and repeat.

三份这个。(Sān fèn zhèige.)

Let’s try another.

Imagine you're Lisa Xu , and you’re at the coffee shop with three friends. Order for four people.

您要什么？(Nín yào shénme?)

四份这个。(Sì fèn zhèige.)

Listen again and repeat.

四份这个。(Sì fèn zhèige.)

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Xianwen Xu , and you’re by yourself.

Order one of something by saying, "One of these."

Ready?

您要什么？(Nín yào shénme?)

一份这个。(Yí fèn zhèige.)

Listen again and repeat.

一份这个。(Yí fèn zhèige.)

In this lesson, you learned how to order two or more of something at a restaurant. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of dining at the restaurant. Let’s review.

Do you remember how to say "waiter"?

服务员 (fúwùyuán)

And how to say "thanks"?

谢谢 (xièxie)

Do you remember the word for “water”?

水 (shuǐ)

Do you remember how to say, "Waiter, I'd like some water, thanks"?

服务员，我要水，谢谢。(Fúwùyuán, wǒ yào shuǐ, xièxie.)

And do you remember how to say "Okay. Coming right away."

好。马上来。(Hǎo. Mǎshàng lái.)

Imagine you're Jack Jones and you're at a restaurant with your friends, and you'd like to ask for the menu.

Do you remember how to say "menu" in Chinese?

菜单 (càidān)

Now ask for the menu.

Ready?

服务员，我要菜单，谢谢。(Fúwùyuán, wǒ yào càidān, xièxie.)

好。马上来。(Hǎo. Mǎshàng lái.)

Listen again and repeat.

服务员，我要菜单，谢谢。(Fúwùyuán, wǒ yào càidān, xièxie.)

You're ready to make your order. You'd like to order three of one item.

Do you remember how to say "three" in Chinese in this context?

三 (sān)

Respond to the server's approach.

您要什么？(Nín yào shénme？)

三份这个。(Sān fèn zhèige.)

Listen again and repeat.

三份这个。(Sān fèn zhèige.)

Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can order at a restaurant unit of this course.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

What's next?

Show us what you can do.

When you're ready, take your assessment.

You can take it again and again, so try anytime you like.

Our teachers will assess it, and give you your results.

Keep practicing — and move on to the next series.

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