About This Lesson
Use Fixing a Wrong Food Order to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
不好意思，我好像拿到的餐点不对。
bù hǎo yì si, wǒ hǎo xiàng ná dào de cān diǎn bú duì. Excuse me, I think I received the wrong order.
B
我来查一下。您点了什么？
wǒ lái chá yí xià. nín diǎn le shén me? Let me check that. What did you order?
A
我点的是汤，但这个托盘里是沙拉。
wǒ diǎn de shì tāng, dàn zhè ge tuō pán lǐ shì shā lā. I ordered soup, but this tray has a salad.
B
我可以马上给您换一份。
wǒ kě yǐ mǎ shàng gěi nín huàn yí fèn. I can replace it right away.
A
您去取的时候，我要在这里等吗？
nín qù qǔ de shí hou, wǒ yào zài zhè lǐ děng ma? Should I wait here while you get it?
B
请在柜台旁边等。
qǐng zài guì tái páng biān děng. Please wait by the counter.
A
我现在就到那边去。
wǒ xiàn zài jiù dào nà biān qù. I will move over there now.
B
您的汤应该很快就好了。
nín de tāng yīng gāi hěn kuài jiù hǎo le. Your soup should be ready soon.Word by Word
不好意思
不好意思 politely gets the other person’s attention and signals an apology in this service-counter situation. In the expression 不好意思, 不好 contributes the idea of something being not good and 意思 contributes the idea of meaning or intention; together they form this polite expression. Use 不好意思 when interrupting someone or pointing out a problem.
我
我 means “I” or “me” in 我好像拿到的餐点不对 and refers to the customer speaking. It appears before the rest of the clause to identify who received the meal. Use 我 when describing your own action, experience, or situation.
好像
好像 means “seemingly” or “I think” in 我好像拿到的餐点不对, showing that the customer is not presenting the problem as completely certain. It comes before the clause or situation that seems true. Use it when giving a careful impression based on what you notice.
拿到
拿到 describes obtaining or receiving something, here the meal in 拿到的餐点. The form combines the action of getting something with the result of having it in hand. It can be used before 的 when identifying something that was received or obtained.
的
的 links 拿到 to 餐点 in 拿到的餐点, meaning “the meal that was received.” Here it connects a describing phrase to the noun rather than simply marking possession. Use 的 after a phrase that describes a person or thing and before the noun being described.
餐点
餐点 means “meal” or “food order” in 餐点不对, the item the customer received from the counter. The phrase 餐点不对 says that the meal or order is not correct. Use 餐点 when discussing a meal in a restaurant or service setting.
不
不 makes 对 negative in 不对, so the customer says that the order is not correct. It comes before the word or description being negated. Use 不 before a present condition or judgment that is negative.
对
对 means “correct” or “right” in 不对, and with 不 it describes the order as incorrect. The form expresses whether something matches what was expected. Use 对 when evaluating an answer, item, or situation as correct.
来
来 in 我来查一下 signals that the staff member will take responsibility for checking, like “let me check.” It is not mainly describing movement toward the speaker here. A useful pattern is 我来 followed by an action when offering to do something.
查
查 means “check” or “look into” in 我来查一下, referring to investigating the order problem. It is followed by 一下 to make the check sound brief and less abrupt. Use 查 when verifying information, an order, or a record.
一下
一下 in 查一下 makes the checking sound brief and less abrupt. The components 一 and 下 work together in 一下 to express a short amount or moment of action. It commonly follows an action word when someone asks to do that action briefly or politely.
您
您 is the polite form of “you” in 您点了什么, used by the staff member when addressing the customer. It appears as the subject before the question’s action. Use 您 when speaking respectfully to a customer or another person in a formal interaction.
点
点 means “order food” in 您点了什么, asking which food the customer ordered. It is followed by the ordered item or by 什么 when the item is unknown. Use 点 when talking about ordering food or drinks at a restaurant.
了
了 in 点了什么 shows that the ordering action has already been completed. It follows 点 before the question word 什么. Use this placement when asking about an action that someone has already done.
什么
什么 means “what” in 您点了什么 and stands for the unknown food item being asked about. It comes after 点了 as the object of the question. Use 什么 after an action when asking which thing was involved.
汤
汤 means “soup” in 我点的是汤, identifying the food the customer intended to order. It is contrasted with the salad that is actually on the tray. Use 汤 when naming soup as a food or order.
但
但 means “but” in 但这个托盘里是沙拉 and introduces a contrast with the previous statement. It connects the intended soup with the different item found on the tray. Use 但 between two statements when the second one does not match the first.
这
这 means “this” in 这个托盘 and points to the tray being identified by the customer. It comes before the classifier 个 and the noun 托盘. Use 这 before a noun phrase for something nearby or currently being discussed.
个
个 is the general measure word in 这个托盘, placed between 这 and 托盘. It helps form the phrase “this tray” with the demonstrative and noun. Use 个 as a general classifier when counting or identifying many ordinary countable things.
托盘
托盘 means “tray” in 这个托盘里, the object containing the salad. Together with 里, it identifies where the unexpected food is. Use 托盘 when referring to the tray used to carry food or other items.
里
里 means “inside” or “in” in 这个托盘里, locating the salad inside the tray. It follows the place or container being used as the location. Use a container or place followed by 里 to say that something is inside it.
是
是 in 这个托盘里是沙拉 identifies what is in the tray: it is salad. The useful pattern here is a location followed by 是 and the item found there. Use this pattern when stating what is present at a particular place.
沙拉
沙拉 means “salad” in 这个托盘里是沙拉, naming the food that was found on the tray. It is the item that differs from the customer’s intended soup. Use 沙拉 when naming salad as a food or order.
可以
可以 in 我可以马上给您换一份 says that the staff member can arrange the replacement. It comes before the action being offered. Use 可以 before an action when expressing ability or offering to do it.
马上
马上 means “right away” in 马上给您换一份 and emphasizes that the replacement will be handled immediately. It comes before the action 给您换一份. Use 马上 before an action when promising or requesting immediate action.
给
给 in 给您换一份 marks the customer as the person for whom the replacement will be made. It comes before 您 and the action 换一份. A useful pattern is 给 followed by a person and then an action done for that person.
换
换 means “replace” or “exchange” in 给您换一份, referring to changing the incorrect food for another serving. It is followed by 一份, which identifies the replacement serving. Use 换 when substituting one item for another.
份
份 is the classifier for a serving or portion in 一份, referring to one replacement serving of food. It follows 一 and comes before the understood food item. Use a number plus 份 when referring to portions or servings of food.
去
去 in 您去取的时候 describes going to get the replacement item. It comes before the action 取 and forms the time phrase 您去取的时候. Use 去 before another action when someone goes somewhere or goes to do something.
取
取 means “get” or “pick up” in 去取, referring to collecting the replacement food. It follows 去 because the staff member is going to perform this action. Use 取 when obtaining or picking up an item that is ready or available.
时候
时候 means “time” or “when” in 您去取的时候 and turns the preceding action into a time setting. The phrase means “when you go to get it.” Use an action followed by 时候 to describe when another action happens.
要
要 in 我要在这里等吗 asks whether the customer is expected to wait there. In this question, it expresses what the speaker should do rather than a simple wish. Use 要 before an action when checking whether an action is required or appropriate.
在
在 in 在这里等 marks the place where the waiting will happen. It comes before 这里 and the action 等. Use 在 followed by a place and then an action to say where something happens.
这里
这里 means “here” in 在这里等 and refers to the customer’s current location. It follows 在 to specify the place of waiting. Use 这里 when pointing to the place where the speaker is or where the conversation is focused.
等
等 means “wait” in 在这里等, describing what the customer will do while the replacement is prepared. It follows the location phrase 在这里. Use 等 when remaining in a place until someone or something is ready.
吗
吗 turns 我要在这里等吗 into a yes-or-no question. It appears at the end of the sentence, after the action and location. Use 吗 at the end when asking whether a statement or proposed action is correct.
请
请 makes 请在柜台旁边等 a polite request to wait beside the counter. It comes before the requested action. Use 请 before an action when giving a courteous instruction or request.
柜台
柜台 means “counter” in 柜台旁边, identifying the service counter near which the customer should wait. It is followed by 旁边 to specify the nearby position. Use 柜台 when referring to a service or payment counter.
旁边
旁边 means “beside” or “next to” in 柜台旁边 and specifies a position next to the counter. It follows the place noun that serves as the reference point. Use a place or object followed by 旁边 to describe a nearby location.
现在
现在 means “now” in 我现在就到那边去 and places the customer’s movement at the current time. It comes before the action phrase. Use 现在 before an action when stating that it is happening at this moment or starting immediately.
就
就 in 现在就到那边去 emphasizes that the customer will go there immediately. It follows 现在 and comes before the movement phrase. Use 就 after a time expression when stressing that an action will happen without delay.
到
到 in 到那边去 means “go to” or “reach” a destination, here the place called 那边. It works with the destination before 去 in this movement expression. Use 到 before a destination when describing going to or arriving at a place.
那边
那边 means “over there” in 到那边去 and points to a place away from the speaker. It follows 到 as the destination of the movement. Use 那边 when referring to a location that is not right here.
应该
应该 in 汤应该很快就好了 expresses an expectation that the soup will be ready soon, rather than an absolute guarantee. It comes before the expected result. Use 应该 before a statement when something is likely or expected to be so.
很快
很快 means “very soon” in 很快就好了 and describes the short time before the soup is ready. It appears before the result expression. Use 很快 when saying that an event or change will happen after only a short wait.
好
好 in 汤应该很快就好了 means that the soup will be ready or available, not simply that it is good. In 好了, the form describes the resulting ready state of the soup. Use 好了 when something has become ready or is ready for use or serving.
Grammar Points
好像 + 形容词
好像不对
hǎo xiàng bú duìIt seems wrong.
好像放在形容词前，表示“似乎、我觉得”，语气比直接说不对更委婉。
动词 + 到
拿到餐点
ná dào cān diǎnreceive the meal
到放在动词后表示动作达到结果；拿到表示“成功拿到或收到”。
Chinese Vocabulary
不对
adj
bú duì
wrong; incorrect
拿到的餐点不对。
不好意思
intj
bù hǎo yì si
excuse me; sorry
不好意思,我好像拿到的餐点不对。
餐点
noun
cān diǎn
meal; food order
我好像拿到的餐点不对。
查
verb
chá
check
我来查一下。
点
verb
diǎn
order
您点了什么?
好像
adv
hǎo xiàng
seemingly; I think
我好像拿到的餐点不对。
换
verb
huàn
replace; exchange
我可以马上给您换一份。
马上
adv
mǎ shàng
right away; immediately
我可以马上给您换一份。
拿到
verb
ná dào
receive; get
我好像拿到的餐点不对。
沙拉
noun
shā lā
salad
这个托盘里是沙拉。
汤
noun
tāng
soup
我点的是汤。
托盘
noun
tuō pán
tray
这个托盘里是沙拉。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
excuse me; sorry
Show Answer
不好意思right away; immediately
Show Answer
马上meal; food order
Show Answer
餐点wrong; incorrect