店员
Hi, what would you like to drink?
Beginner · 8-10 min
Order Coffee in Chinese点咖啡
After this scene, you can order a drink in a cafe, choose hot or iced, answer “for here or to go”, and handle basic payment talk.
Learning
Core dialogue
你
I'd like an iced Americano.
店员
Large or medium?
你
Medium, please.
店员
For here or to go?
你
To go.
店员
That’s 28 yuan in total.
你
I'll use Alipay.
Key phrases
Pick a phrase and see what it means here, and how to reuse it.
Phrase Card
Phrase 1 of 7
wǒ我yào要
I’d like / I want
From the dialogue
你:我要一杯冰美式。
I'd like an iced Americano.
Use it here
Use “我要” when you want to order or ask for something directly. In a cafe, it sounds natural and clear.
Say it another way
- wǒ我yào要yì一bēi杯bīng冰měi美shì式。
I'd like an iced Americano.
- wǒ我yào要yì一bēi杯rè热ná拿tiě铁。
I'd like a hot latte.
- wǒ我yào要zhè这ge个。
I want this one.
- wǒ我yào要liǎng两ge个。
I want two.
Patterns
Pick a pattern and see how it helps you say new things in the same scene.
Pattern Card
Pattern 1 of 3
Ordering a drink
Use this to order any drink in a cafe or restaurant.
我要 + 一杯 + 饮料
饮料 = the drink you want
From dialogue
- wǒ我yào要yì一bēi杯bīng冰měi美shì式。
I'd like an iced Americano.
Try also
- wǒ我yào要yì一bēi杯rè热ná拿tiě铁。
I'd like a hot latte.
- wǒ我yào要yì一bēi杯nǎi奶chá茶。
I'd like a milk tea.
Common mistakes
Small fixes that make your Chinese sound natural.
1. Measure word for drinks
Not natural
我要一个咖啡。
Natural
我要一杯咖啡。
Why
Use the measure word 一杯 for drinks, like coffee, tea, and juice.
2. Payment expression
Not natural
我是用支付宝。
Natural
我用支付宝。
Why
When talking about payment, say 我用... directly before the payment method.
3. To go
Not natural
带去。
Natural
带走。
Why
In a cafe, the natural way to say to go is 带走.
Quick answers for this Chinese scene
What does 我要 mean in Chinese?
I’d like / I want Use “我要” when you want to order or ask for something directly. In a cafe, it sounds natural and clear.
What does 一杯 mean in Chinese?
one cup of Use “一杯” before drinks. It is the natural measure word for coffee, tea, water, and many other drinks.
What does 在这喝 / 带走 mean in Chinese?
for here / to go Use “带走” when you want to take food or drinks away. When the clerk asks “在这喝还是带走？”, you can simply answer “带走”.
What is a common order coffee mistake to avoid?
Say 我要一杯咖啡。 instead of 我要一个咖啡。. Use the measure word 一杯 for drinks, like coffee, tea, and juice.
What is a common order coffee mistake to avoid?
Say 我用支付宝。 instead of 我是用支付宝。. When talking about payment, say 我用... directly before the payment method.