hundredwords

What do you say when ordering a bowl of noodles in China?

Expect to hear 吃什么？ (chī shénme, "What are you eating?"), 要辣吗？ (yào là ma, "Do you want it spicy?"). Useful things to say: 一碗牛肉面。 (yì wǎn niúròu miàn, "A bowl of beef noodles") and 微辣。 (wēi là, "Just a little spicy").

The whole conversation: A bowl of noodles

Lunch at a small noodle shop with plastic stools and a menu on the wall.

  1. You hear
    吃什么？ chī shénme What are you eating?
  2. You say
    一碗牛肉面。 yì wǎn niúròu miàn A bowl of beef noodles.
  3. You hear
    要辣吗？ yào là ma Do you want it spicy?
  4. You say
    微辣。 wēi là Just a little spicy.

    In Sichuan and Hunan, "a little" is still very spicy.

  5. You say
    不要香菜。 bú yào xiāngcài No coriander.
  6. You say
    我吃素。 wǒ chī sù I'm vegetarian.
  7. You say
    这个是什么？ zhège shì shénme What is this?
  8. You say
    好吃！ hǎochī Delicious!
  9. You say
    打包。 dǎbāo Can I take the rest away?
Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

What do you say when ordering a bowl of noodles in China?

Expect to hear 吃什么？ (chī shénme, "What are you eating?"), 要辣吗？ (yào là ma, "Do you want it spicy?"). Useful things to say: 一碗牛肉面。 (yì wǎn niúròu miàn, "A bowl of beef noodles") and 微辣。 (wēi là, "Just a little spicy").

What does "吃什么？" mean in Mandarin (China)?

It means "What are you eating?". It is pronounced chī shénme. A natural reply is 一碗牛肉面。 (yì wǎn niúròu miàn), "A bowl of beef noodles".

What does "要辣吗？" mean in Mandarin (China)?

It means "Do you want it spicy?". It is pronounced yào là ma. A natural reply is 微辣。 (wēi là), "Just a little spicy".