Ordering Drinks and Tea in Mandarin
Order a cold drink in China and you may get a puzzled look. Water arrives hot or at room temperature far more often than chilled, and 'iced' has to be asked for. The flip side is that outside the big cities, tea is expected to be hot.
Tea usually arrives as a loose-leaf pot you top up yourself from a thermos on the table. It is part of the meal, not a paid extra.
Useful phrases
- 我要一杯水。I'd like a glass of water.
杯 (bēi) is the measure word for a glass or cup. 我要 (wǒ yào) means I want — a blunt but perfectly polite way to order.
- 热水。Hot water.
The default in most restaurants. To get cold water you have to ask specifically for 冰水.
- 冰水。Iced water.
冰 (bīng) is ice. Add it to nearly any drink: 冰咖啡 (iced coffee), 冰啤酒 (cold beer).
- 常温的。Room temperature.
常温 is what you get when you want water that is neither hot nor iced. Useful if ice tends to upset your stomach.
- 有茶吗？Do you have tea?
In a restaurant the answer is usually yes, and often free. Tea houses and bubble-tea shops are a separate story.
- 我要绿茶。I'd like green tea.
绿 (lǜ) is green and 茶 (chá) is tea. Swap in 红茶 (black tea) or 花茶 (jasmine) the same way.
- 我要啤酒。I'd like a beer.
Local lagers such as Tsingtao and Snow come cold and cheap. Ask for it by brand if you have a favourite.
- 一瓶啤酒。One bottle of beer.
瓶 (píng) is the measure word for a bottle. For a draught pour, ask for 一杯 (yī bēi).
- 不要冰。No ice.
Essential at bubble-tea shops, where the default cup is half ice. Say it before they start filling.
- 少冰。Less ice.
少 means less. A nice middle ground when you want the drink cold but not diluted within five minutes.
- 再来一杯。One more, please.
The repeat-order phrase, same as for food. Works for tea, beer and soft drinks.
- 干杯！Cheers!
干杯 literally means 'dry the cup'. At a banquet someone may urge you to drain it; a small sip is usually fine too.
Quick cultural tip
The two-finger thank-you
When someone tops up your tea, tap two fingers on the table beside your cup. It is the Chinese equivalent of thank you at a tea table and saves interrupting the conversation to say it out loud.
If you are the youngest at the table, expect to be the one pouring for everyone else. It is a small gesture that sits well, whether or not you can speak much Mandarin yet.