What Chinese Phrases Should You Save for Eating in China?

Restaurants are one of the first places where a foreign visitor can feel stuck: the menu may be in Chinese, staff may not speak English, and food restrictions need to be explained clearly.

Open this when ordering, paying, asking about spice, explaining allergies, or using a QR menu.

Open this card when you are ordering food, checking spice level, explaining allergies, asking for the bill, or paying at a restaurant, cafe, street-food stall, or small local shop.

How to use these at a restaurant

1. Show the Chinese sentence on your phone before you start explaining. The characters matter more than your accent when the server is busy.
2. Read the pinyin slowly only if pointing is not enough. Do not aim for perfect pronunciation. A short sentence and a polite smile usually work better than a long explanation.
3. Keep each request to one point. Restaurant counters move fast, and long explanations are easy to misunderstand.
4. Screenshot the cards before dinner. This helps most with QR menus, allergies, spice level, payment, and asking for the bill.

Restaurant phrases worth saving

Use it when: You need a menu.

请给我菜单。

Pinyin: Qing gei wo caidan.

Please give me the menu.

Use it when: You are worried about spice.

请问，这个辣吗？

Pinyin: Qingwen, zhege la ma?

Is this spicy?

Use it when: You want a non-spicy version.

请问，可以不要辣吗？

Pinyin: Qingwen, keyi buyao la ma?

Can you make it not spicy?

Use it when: You do not eat pork.

我不吃猪肉。

Pinyin: Wo bu chi zhurou.

I do not eat pork.

Use it when: You have a peanut allergy.

我对花生过敏。

Pinyin: Wo dui huasheng guomin.

I am allergic to peanuts.

Use it when: You need to make an allergy very clear.

我过敏，不能吃这个。

Pinyin: Wo guomin, buneng chi zhege.

I am allergic. I cannot eat this.

Use it when: You want staff to recommend something safe.

请帮我推荐一个不辣的菜。

Pinyin: Qing bang wo tuijian yige bu la de cai.

Please recommend a dish that is not spicy.

Use it when: You are pointing at the menu or another table.

我要这个，谢谢。

Pinyin: Wo yao zhege, xiexie.

I want this one, thank you.

Use it when: You need bottled water.

请给我一瓶水。

Pinyin: Qing gei wo yi ping shui.

Please give me a bottle of water.

Use it when: You want leftovers or takeaway.

请帮我打包。

Pinyin: Qing bang wo dabao.

Please pack this to go.

Use it when: You want the bill.

请买单，谢谢。

Pinyin: Qing maidan, xiexie.

The bill, please.

Use it when: You want to know whether Alipay (支付宝, Zhifubao) or WeChat Pay (微信支付, Weixin Zhifu) works.

请问，可以用支付宝或微信支付吗？

Pinyin: Qingwen, keyi yong Zhifubao huo Weixin Zhifu ma?

Can I use Alipay or WeChat Pay?

Where restaurant communication breaks down

• Do not rely on pinyin for allergies. Show the Chinese sentence and the ingredient name clearly.
• Some small restaurants may only accept local mobile payment. Keep a backup payment method ready.
• If the food restriction is serious, use a translation app and show the allergy line before ordering, not after the food arrives.

FAQ

Should I say the pinyin or show the Chinese?

Show the Chinese first. Pinyin is useful only as a backup, because your pronunciation may not sound natural to local staff.

What if the restaurant cannot handle my allergy?

Do not negotiate under pressure. Leave and choose a simpler restaurant, convenience store, hotel restaurant, or chain cafe where ingredients are easier to confirm.

Next: If dinner may end late, save the taxi and DiDi phrases too.