Choosing a Restaurant for Lunch | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Choosing a Restaurant for Lunch to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我们应该选哪家店吃午餐？

wǒmen yīnggāi xuǎn nǎ jiā diàn chī wǔcān? Which place should we choose for lunch?

我们选一家近一点、方便一点的店吧。

wǒmen xuǎn yì jiā jìn yìdiǎn, fāngbiàn yìdiǎn de diàn ba. Let's pick somewhere close and convenient.

这条街上的那家店有简单的午餐菜单。

zhè tiáo jiē shàng de nà jiā diàn yǒu jiǎndān de wǔcān càidān. The place on this street has a simple lunch menu.

公园附近的咖啡馆可能更安静。

gōngyuán fùjìn de kāfēiguǎn kěnéng gèng ānjìng. The cafe near the park might be quieter.

但是那家更远。

dànshì nà jiā gèng yuǎn. But it is farther away.

附近那家店需要预订吗？

fùjìn nà jiā diàn xūyào yùdìng ma? Do we need a reservation for the nearby place?

可能不用。这个时间通常能找到一张桌子。

kěnéng bú yòng. zhège shíjiān tōngcháng néng zhǎodào yì zhāng zhuōzi. Probably not. Around this time, we can usually find a table.

那我们就选这条街上的那家店吧。

nà wǒmen jiù xuǎn zhè tiáo jiē shàng de nà jiā diàn ba. Then let's choose the place on this street.

这样我们就有更多时间吃饭了。

zhèyàng wǒmen jiù yǒu gèng duō shíjiān chīfàn le. That leaves us more time to eat.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us,” referring to the speaker and the other person together. It is the subject in “我们应该选哪家店吃午餐？” and “我们选一家近一点、方便一点的店吧。” Reuse it before a verb when talking about a shared action, such as “我们吃饭” in a new example.

应该 “应该” means “should” or “ought to” here, expressing what the two people think is a suitable choice. In “我们应该选哪家店吃午餐？”, it comes before the action “选”. Use “应该” before a verb to give advice or ask what is appropriate, as in “你应该休息” in a new example.

选 “选” means “choose” or “select” in “我们应该选哪家店吃午餐？” and “我们选一家近一点、方便一点的店吧。” It takes the thing being chosen after it, such as “选哪家店” or “选一家店”. Use it when deciding between places, objects, or options.

哪家 “哪家” means “which establishment” in “我们应该选哪家店吃午餐？”. “哪” asks which one, and “家” is used with establishments such as restaurants or shops. Reuse “哪家” before “店” when asking which restaurant or shop someone means.

店 “店” means “shop” or, in this dialogue, “restaurant” in “哪家店” and “那家店”. It is the establishment being chosen or discussed. Reuse it after a place word or classifier, such as “这家店” in a new example.

吃 “吃” means “eat” in “选哪家店吃午餐？”. It follows the chosen place and states the purpose of choosing it. Reuse “吃” before a meal or food, such as “吃饭” or “吃午餐”.

午餐 “午餐” means “lunch” in “吃午餐”. It identifies the meal they plan to eat. Reuse it after “吃” to talk about eating lunch, as in “吃午餐”.

一家 “一家” means “one establishment” in “我们选一家近一点、方便一点的店吧。” “一” gives the quantity one, and “家” is the classifier used here for an establishment. Reuse “一家” before a place such as “一家店” when selecting one establishment.

近 “近” means “near” or “close” in “近一点”, describing a place that is not far away. The phrase “近一点” asks for or suggests a somewhat closer option. Reuse it before “一点” when making a mild comparison about distance.

一点 “一点” means “a little” or “somewhat” in both “近一点” and “方便一点”. It softens the degree of the description, so the suggestion is for a place that is a little closer and a little more convenient. Reuse “形容词 + 一点”, such as “安静一点” in a new example.

方便 “方便” means “convenient” in “方便一点”, describing a place that is easy or practical to use. “一点” makes the desired degree somewhat more convenient rather than stating an extreme comparison. Reuse it before “一点” when comparing practical choices.

的 “的” links a description to the noun it describes in “近一点、方便一点的店”. The descriptions before “的” identify what kind of shop they want. Reuse the pattern “description + 的 + noun”, such as “安静的地方” in a new example.

吧 “吧” marks a suggestion in “我们选一家近一点、方便一点的店吧。” It makes the choice sound like a proposal for the two people to consider together. Reuse it at the end of a suggested action, such as “我们走吧” in a new example.

这条 “这条” means “this particular one” with the classifier used for a street in “这条街上的那家店”. It identifies the street being discussed as the one close to the speakers. Reuse “这条” before a street or another item that takes this classifier.

街上 “街上” means “on the street” in the expression “这条街上的那家店”. It locates the shop on the street, with “的” after it linking the location to “那家店”. Reuse it in a location phrase such as “街上有一家店” in a new example.

那家 “那家” means “that establishment” in “那家店”, referring to a specific shop already identified by the conversation. “那” points to that one, and “家” classifies the establishment. Reuse it before “店” when referring back to a particular restaurant or shop.

有 “有” means “has” in “那家店有简单的午餐菜单”. It states that the shop offers or contains the menu. Reuse “有” before a thing that a place possesses or provides, such as “店里有桌子” in a new example.

简单 “简单” means “simple” in “简单的午餐菜单”. It describes the menu as uncomplicated or limited in this context. Reuse it before “的” and a noun when describing something as simple, such as “简单的菜” in a new example.

菜单 “菜单” means “menu” in “简单的午餐菜单”. It is the list of food available at the shop. Reuse it after a description, as in “午餐菜单” or “新的菜单” in a new example.

公园 “公园” means “park” in “公园附近的咖啡馆”. It identifies the place used as a reference point for locating the cafe. Reuse it before “附近” when describing something near a park.

附近 “附近” means “nearby” or “in the vicinity” in “公园附近的咖啡馆” and “附近那家店”. It describes a location close to a reference point or to the speakers. Reuse it before a noun, as in “附近的店”, or after a place name, as in “公园附近”.

咖啡馆 “咖啡馆” means “cafe” in “公园附近的咖啡馆”. It is the second restaurant option being compared. Reuse it after a location phrase, such as “附近的咖啡馆” in a new example.

可能 “可能” means “might” or “possibly” in “公园附近的咖啡馆可能更安静”. It shows that the speaker is making a possibility rather than stating a certainty. Reuse “可能” before a description or action when the result is uncertain.

更 “更” means “more” or “even more” in “更安静”, comparing the cafe with another place. It comes before “安静” to show a higher degree of quietness. Reuse “更” before a description when comparing two options, such as “更方便” in a new example.

安静 “安静” means “quiet” in “可能更安静”, describing the cafe as having less noise than the other option. With “更” before it, the dialogue presents it as the quieter choice. Reuse it after “更” when comparing places or situations.

但是 “但是” means “but” in “但是那家更远”. It introduces a disadvantage that contrasts with the cafe possibly being quieter. Reuse it at the start of a sentence when adding an opposing point or limitation.

远 “远” means “far” in “那家更远”. With “更”, it says that the cafe is farther away than the nearby option. Reuse it after “更” when comparing distances, such as “更远”.

需要 “需要” means “need” or “require” in “附近那家店需要预订吗？”. It asks whether the restaurant requires a reservation. Reuse “需要” before a noun or action, such as “需要预订” or “需要时间”.

预订 “预订” means “make a reservation” or “reserve” in “需要预订吗？”. It names the action that might be required before going to the restaurant. Reuse it after “需要” when asking or stating that a reservation is necessary.

吗 “吗” marks the yes-or-no question “附近那家店需要预订吗？”. It is placed at the end of the statement to turn it into a question. Reuse it at the end of a yes-or-no question, such as “你要吃午餐吗？” in a new example.

不用 “不用” means “do not need to” in “可能不用”, answering that a reservation is probably unnecessary. It directly expresses that the action mentioned before is not required. Reuse it before an action when telling someone that the action is unnecessary, such as “不用预订” in a new example.

这个 “这个” means “this” in “这个时间”, referring to the time currently being discussed. Together with “时间”, it helps identify the current period around lunch. Reuse it before a noun when pointing to a particular thing or period, such as “这个地方” in a new example.

时间 “时间” means “time” in “这个时间”. Here it refers to the current time of day when they want to find a table. Reuse it after a demonstrative or description, such as “午餐时间” in a new example.

通常 “通常” means “usually” in “通常能找到一张桌子”. It describes what generally happens around this time, without making an absolute promise. Reuse it before the action or description that normally occurs.

能 “能” means “can” or “be able to” in “能找到一张桌子”. It expresses that finding a table is possible. Reuse it before a verb, as in “能吃饭” or “能找到”.

找到 “找到” means “find” in “能找到一张桌子”, with the sense of successfully locating one. It follows “能” and comes before the thing being found. Reuse the pattern “能找到 + object”, keeping the object after the verb.

一张 “一张” means “one” plus the classifier used for a table in “一张桌子”. It specifies one table that they can find. Reuse “一张” before a table or another suitable flat item, such as “一张票” in a new example.

桌子 “桌子” means “table” in “一张桌子”. It is the object they hope to find at the restaurant. Reuse it after “一张” when referring to one table.

那 “那” means “then” or “in that case” at the beginning of “那我们就选这条街上的那家店吧。” It connects the earlier information about reservations and distance to the decision that follows. Reuse it before a conclusion, such as “那我们走吧” in a new example.

就 “就” means “then” or “in that case” in “那我们就选这条街上的那家店吧”. It shows that the choice follows naturally from the discussion. Reuse “那……就……” when a condition or conclusion leads to an action.

这样 “这样” means “in this way” or “this means” in “这样我们就有更多时间吃饭了”. It refers to choosing the nearby restaurant and explains the resulting benefit. Reuse it at the start of a sentence when describing the result of an action just mentioned.

更多 “更多” means “more” in “更多时间”. It says that the choice gives them an increased amount of time. Reuse it before a noun, such as “更多时间” or “更多选择” in a new example.

吃饭 “吃饭” means “eat a meal” in “有更多时间吃饭了”. It refers generally to having the meal, rather than naming a specific food. Reuse it after “时间” to say that there is time to eat, as in “有时间吃饭” in a new example.

了 “了” marks a changed situation at the end of “这样我们就有更多时间吃饭了”. The choice has now resulted in more available time for eating. Reuse it at the end of a sentence when presenting a new situation or change, such as “现在有时间了” in a new example.

Grammar Points

更 + 形容词

更远

gèng yuǎn

farther away

更放在形容词前表示比较，意思是“more”或“比较……”。

通常 + 动词

通常吃饭

tōngcháng chīfàn

usually eat / usually have a meal

通常放在动词前表示经常发生的习惯或情况，相当于“usually”。

Chinese Vocabulary

菜单 noun

càidān menu

店 noun

diàn shop; restaurant

方便 adj

fāngbiàn convenient

附近 adv

fùjìn nearby; in the vicinity

公园 noun

gōngyuán park

简单 adj

jiǎndān simple

近 adj

jìn near; close

哪家店 phrase

nǎ jiā diàn which restaurant; which shop

我们 pron

wǒmen we; us

午餐 noun

wǔcān lunch

选 verb

xuǎn to choose; to pick

这条街 phrase

zhè tiáo jiē this street

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

which restaurant; which shop

Show Answer

哪家店

convenient

Show Answer

方便

nearby; in the vicinity

Show Answer

附近

this street

Show Answer

这条街