Ordering a latte with oat milk | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: At a cafe counter, a customer orders a latte with oat milk and asks for lighter foam while the barista checks the label..

EN → ZH / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Ordering a latte with oat milk to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

如果你们有燕麦奶，我可以要一杯拿铁吗？

Rúguǒ nǐmen yǒu yànmàinǎi, wǒ kěyǐ yào yì bēi nátiě ma? Could I have a latte with oat milk if you have it?
B

我们有。你要平时那么多的奶泡吗？

Wǒmen yǒu. Nǐ yào píngshí nàme duō de nǎipào ma? We do. Would you like the usual amount of foam?
A

少一点奶泡比较好。我今天不喝普通牛奶。

Shǎo yìdiǎn nǎipào bǐjiào hǎo. Wǒ jīntiān bù hē pǔtōng niúnǎi. Less foam would be better. I'm avoiding regular milk today.
B

我会少放一点奶泡。

Wǒ huì shǎo fàng yìdiǎn nǎipào. I'll make it with less foam.
A

我只需要这些。

Wǒ zhǐ xūyào zhèxiē. That's all I need.
B

我现在就准备，交给你之前会检查标签。

Wǒ xiànzài jiù zhǔnbèi, jiāo gěi nǐ zhīqián huì jiǎnchá biāoqiān. I'll prepare it now and check the label before I hand it over.

Word by Word

如果 “如果” means “if” and introduces the condition that the cafe has oat milk. It appears at the start of “如果你们有燕麦奶” before the request. Use it when making a request that depends on a condition, such as availability.
你们 “你们” means “you” when addressing more than one person. Here the customer addresses the cafe staff as a group in “如果你们有燕麦奶”. It is useful when speaking to several people or to an organization represented by its staff.
有 “有” means “have” or “be available” here, referring to whether the cafe has oat milk available. It appears in “你们有燕麦奶”. A common reuse pattern is “有” followed by the available item when checking availability in a shop or cafe.
燕麦奶 “燕麦奶” means “oat milk” and names the milk option requested for the latte. It is the item after “有” in “有燕麦奶”. Use it when specifying oat milk as an ingredient or drink option.
我 “我” means “I” or “me” and refers to the customer in “我可以要一杯拿铁吗？”. It is also the subject in “我今天不喝普通牛奶”. A common reuse pattern is “我” followed by a verb when stating your request, choice, or action.
可以 “可以” means “can” or “may” and asks whether the customer may order the latte. In “我可以要一杯拿铁吗？”, it comes before the requested action and combines with “吗” to form a yes-no question. Use “可以” before an action when asking for permission or checking whether something is possible.
要 “要” means “want” or “order” in “要一杯拿铁”, where the customer requests a latte. It comes before the item being ordered. Use “要” followed by the food or drink when ordering at a cafe or restaurant.
杯 “杯” is the measure word used in “一杯拿铁” for one cup of latte. It comes after “一” and before the drink name. Use the pattern “一杯” plus a drink when ordering one cup.
拿铁 “拿铁” means “latte” in “一杯拿铁”. It names the drink being ordered and follows the measure phrase “一杯”. Use it after a quantity such as “一杯” when ordering a latte.
吗 “吗” marks the preceding sentence as a yes-no question in “我可以要一杯拿铁吗？”. It is placed at the end of the question. Add “吗” after a statement when asking for a simple confirmation or permission.
我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” and refers to the cafe staff or business in “我们有”. The speaker uses it to answer for the cafe about availability. Use “我们” when speaking for yourself together with other people or for a group you represent.
你 “你” means “you” when the staff member addresses the customer in “你要平时那么多的奶泡吗？”. It is the person whose preference is being checked. Use “你” when speaking directly to one person.
平时 “平时” means “usually” or “normally” and refers to the customer’s normal amount of foam in “平时那么多的奶泡”. It contrasts the usual amount with a possible adjustment for this order. Use it when asking about or describing what normally happens.
那么 “那么” means “that” or “to that degree” in “那么多”, referring to the amount being discussed. It combines with “多” to describe the quantity of foam. Use “那么” before a quantity or degree word when referring to an amount or degree already understood.
多 “多” means “much” or “many” and describes the amount in “那么多的奶泡”. Here it refers to how much foam is normally used. Use it with a quantity or modifier when discussing the amount of something.
的 “的” links the amount description “那么多” to the noun “奶泡” in “那么多的奶泡”. It shows that the preceding description applies to the following noun. A common reuse pattern is a description followed by “的” and then the noun it describes.
奶泡 “奶泡” means “milk foam” and is the ingredient whose amount is being discussed. It appears in “平时那么多的奶泡” and “少一点奶泡”. Use it after an amount expression when specifying how much foam a drink should have.
少 “少” means “less” in “少一点奶泡” and “少放一点奶泡”. It requests a smaller amount of foam than usual. Use “少” before an amount or ingredient when customizing an order to contain less.
点 “点” means “a little” or “a small amount” in “一点奶泡”. Together with “少”, it makes the request for a small reduction in foam. Use “一点” before a mass noun when asking for a small amount.
比较 “比较” means “relatively” or “comparatively” in “比较好”. It presents less foam as the preferable option in the customer’s request. Use “比较” before an adjective when making a relative evaluation.
好 “好” means “good” or “better” in “少一点奶泡比较好”. It evaluates the option of having less foam as preferable for this order. Use “X比较好” to say that one option is better or more suitable.
今天 “今天” means “today” and specifies the day in “我今天不喝普通牛奶”. It limits the customer’s choice to the current day. Use “今天” before the action or situation that applies today.
不 “不” means “not” and negates “喝” in “不喝普通牛奶”. It states that the customer is not drinking regular milk today. Use “不” before a verb to express a negative choice or action.
喝 “喝” means “drink” and takes “普通牛奶” as its object in “不喝普通牛奶”. Here it explains the customer’s choice about regular milk. Use “喝” before a beverage when saying that someone drinks or does not drink it.
普通 “普通” means “regular” or “ordinary” and describes the type of milk in “普通牛奶”. It distinguishes this milk from the oat milk requested earlier. Use it before a noun when identifying something as the standard or ordinary option.
牛奶 “牛奶” means “milk” in “普通牛奶”. It is the drink that the customer says they are not drinking today. Use it with a describing word such as “普通” when specifying the kind of milk.
会 “会” means “will” or “be going to” in “会检查标签”. It indicates that the staff member intends to check the label before handing over the drink. Use the pattern “subject + 会 + verb” for a future action or intention.
放 “放” means “put” or “add” in “少放一点奶泡”. It describes adding a smaller amount of foam to the drink. Use it before the ingredient or item being added, especially in a preparation instruction.
只 “只” means “only” or “just” in “我只需要这些”. It limits what the customer needs to the things already mentioned. Use “只” before a verb to show that the action or need is limited.
需要 “需要” means “need” in “我只需要这些”. It states what the customer requires for the order. Use “需要” followed by the needed item or things.
这些 “这些” means “these” or “these things” in “我只需要这些”. It refers to the items or requirements already discussed in the conversation. Use it when pointing back to several nearby or previously mentioned things.
现在 “现在” means “now” and sets the time for preparation in “我现在就准备”. It shows that the staff member will begin immediately. Use “现在” before a verb when describing what is happening at this moment.
就 “就” means “right away” in “现在就准备”. Together with “现在”, it emphasizes that preparation will start without delay. Use the pattern “现在就” before an action when promising to do it immediately.
准备 “准备” means “prepare” in “我现在就准备”, referring to making the ordered drink. The object is understood from the cafe context. Use “准备” before an item when saying that food, a drink, or something else is being prepared.
交给 “交给” means “hand over to” in “交给你之前”, identifying the customer as the recipient. It describes transferring the prepared drink to another person. Use “交给” followed by the recipient when saying that something will be handed to someone.
之前 “之前” means “before” in “交给你之前”. It marks the checking action as happening earlier than handing the drink to the customer. A common reuse pattern is a verb phrase followed by “之前” to mean “before doing that action”.
检查 “检查” means “check” or “inspect” in “检查标签”. The staff member checks the label as part of preparing the order. Use “检查” followed by the item being checked when verifying information or a product.
标签 “标签” means “label” in “检查标签”. It is the item the staff member checks before handing over the drink. Use it after “检查” when referring to verifying information printed on a product label.

Grammar Points

如果……，……

如果你们要燕麦奶，放这些。

Rúguǒ nǐmen yào yànmàinǎi, fàng zhèxiē.

If you want oat milk, add these.

如果 introduces a condition and usually comes before the subject or verb; the comma separates the condition from its result.

比较 + 形容词

燕麦奶比较好。

Yànmàinǎi bǐjiào hǎo.

Oat milk is comparatively better.

比较 comes before an adjective to express a relative comparison, such as “comparatively better” or “rather good.”

Chinese Vocabulary

比较 adv
bǐjiào rather; comparatively
好 adj
hǎo better; good
今天 adv
jīntiān today
拿铁 noun
nátiě latte
奶泡 noun
nǎipào milk foam
你们 pron
nǐmen you (plural)
平时 adv
píngshí usually; usual
如果 conj
rúguǒ if
少一点 phrase
shǎo yìdiǎn a little less
燕麦奶 noun
yànmàinǎi oat milk
要 verb
yào want; would like
一杯 phrase
yì bēi one cup; a cup of

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

one cup; a cup of

Show Answer一杯

latte

Show Answer拿铁

oat milk

Show Answer燕麦奶

usually; usual

Show Answer平时