hundredwords

What do people say at a hotpot restaurant in China?

Expect to hear 几位？ (jǐ wèi, "How many of you?"). Useful things to say: 四个人。 (sì ge rén, "Four people") and 服务员！ (fúwùyuán, "Excuse me! (calling the server)").

The whole conversation: Hotpot with friends

A busy hotpot restaurant. You order by scanning a code on the table.

  1. You hear
    几位？ jǐ wèi How many of you?
  2. You say
    四个人。 sì ge rén Four people.
  3. You hear
    扫码点菜。 sǎo mǎ diǎn cài Scan the code to order.
  4. You say
    服务员！ fúwùyuán Excuse me! (calling the server)

    Say it with a hand raised. In small places people call the owner lǎobǎn (老板).

  5. You say
    我对花生过敏。 wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn I'm allergic to peanuts.

    For a serious allergy, carry a written card checked by a native speaker.

  6. You say
    再来两瓶啤酒。 zài lái liǎng píng píjiǔ Two more bottles of beer.
  7. You say
    干杯！ gānbēi Cheers!

    It means "dry glass". Expect to finish yours.

  8. You say
    买单！ mǎidān The bill, please!
Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

What do people say at a hotpot restaurant in China?

Expect to hear 几位？ (jǐ wèi, "How many of you?"). Useful things to say: 四个人。 (sì ge rén, "Four people") and 服务员！ (fúwùyuán, "Excuse me! (calling the server)").

What does "几位？" mean in Mandarin (China)?

It means "How many of you?". It is pronounced jǐ wèi. A natural reply is 四个人。 (sì ge rén), "Four people".