Master "Order at a Local Cafe" with Chinese
Updated Dec 15, 2025
We've compiled commonly used Chinese expressions in "Order at a Local Cafe". Also, learn how to express yourself like a native by looking at real conversation examples.
💬 Read "Order at a Local Cafe" Dialogue
Read the dialogue below. Once you memorize all of this content, you'll be able to speak like a native in Order at a Local Cafe situations! We've also included useful phrases for each response, so be sure to check them out.
The customer and their friend enter a cozy café with a pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. The barista greets them warmly from behind the counter.
欢迎光临，请问今天想喝点什么？
Welcome! What would you like to drink today?
我要一杯冰美式，谢谢。
One iced Americano, please.
Takeaway
"我要一杯~，谢谢。" This structure is a polite and natural way to order drinks or food in Chinese. It uses the correct measure word “杯” for beverages and ends with “谢谢” to sound courteous and fluent in real-life interactions.
-我要一杯拿铁，谢谢。I’d like a latte, please.
-我要一杯热茶，谢谢。I’d like a cup of hot tea, please.
-我要一杯果汁，谢谢。I’d like a glass of juice, please.
好的，一杯冰美式咖啡。请问还需要点别的吗？
Okay, one iced Americano. Would you like anything else?
是的，要一个贝果，谢谢。
Yes, I’d like a bagel, thank you.
Takeaway
"要一个~，谢谢。" This structure is polite and natural when ordering food or drinks in Chinese. It clearly expresses the customer’s intention to order something while maintaining a courteous tone suitable for service interactions.
-要一个贝果，谢谢。I’d like a bagel, thank you.
-要一杯拿铁，谢谢。I’d like a latte, thank you.
-要一份蛋糕，谢谢。I’d like a piece of cake, thank you.
好的，一杯冰美式咖啡和一个贝果。请问要外带还是内用呢？
Okay, one iced Americano and one bagel. Would you like that to go or for here?
要外带，谢谢。
Takeout, please.
Takeaway
"要外带，谢谢。" This phrase is useful because it is the standard and polite way to indicate that you want your order to be packaged for takeout when ordering in person at a café or restaurant.
-要外带，谢谢。Takeout, please.
-请帮我打包，谢谢。Please pack it to go, thank you.
-我要外带一杯咖啡。I’d like a coffee to go.
好的，外带一杯冰美式和一个贝果。请问可以告诉我您的名字吗？
Okay, one iced Americano and one bagel for takeout. May I have your name, please?
我叫艾玛。
My name is Emma.
Takeaway
"我叫~" This phrase is the most natural and common way to introduce oneself in Chinese. It is concise, polite, and appropriate in both casual and formal contexts.
-我叫安娜。My name is Anna.
-我叫大卫。My name is David.
-我叫李明。My name is Li Ming.
谢谢艾玛，请问您要用什么方式付款？
Thank you, Emma. How would you like to pay?
我用卡付款。
I’ll pay by card.
Takeaway
"我用~付款。" This structure is useful for expressing payment methods naturally in Chinese. It can be used in any transaction setting, such as cafes, restaurants, or shops, and helps learners sound polite and fluent when paying.
-我用现金付款。I’ll pay by cash.
-我用信用卡付款。I’ll pay by credit card.
-我用手机付款。I’ll pay by phone.
好的，请把卡给我。
Okay, please hand me your card.
给你。
Here you go.
Takeaway
"给~。" This phrase is a concise and natural way to hand something to another person in Chinese. It is appropriate in both casual and service settings, and can be adjusted for politeness by adding “您.”
-给你咖啡。Here’s your coffee.
-给您收据。Here’s your receipt.
-给你找零。Here’s your change.
谢谢，付款完成，这是您的收据，冰美式和贝果马上就准备好。
Thank you, payment completed. Here’s your receipt, your iced Americano and bagel will be ready soon.
The customer takes the receipt and prepares to leave the café.
✍️ Key Phrases and Vocabulary
We've compiled the key phrases and vocabulary from the Order at a Local Cafe dialogue above. Take a quick look through them.
1
我要一杯~，谢谢。I’d like a cup of ~, please.
-我要一杯拿铁，谢谢。I’d like a latte, please.
-我要一杯热茶，谢谢。I’d like a cup of hot tea, please.
-我要一杯果汁，谢谢。I’d like a glass of juice, please.
2
要一个~，谢谢。I’d like a ~, thank you.
-要一个贝果，谢谢。I’d like a bagel, thank you.
-要一杯拿铁，谢谢。I’d like a latte, thank you.
-要一份蛋糕，谢谢。I’d like a piece of cake, thank you.
3
要外带，谢谢。Takeout, please.
-要外带，谢谢。Takeout, please.
-请帮我打包，谢谢。Please pack it to go, thank you.
-我要外带一杯咖啡。I’d like a coffee to go.
4
我叫~My name is ~
-我叫安娜。My name is Anna.
-我叫大卫。My name is David.
-我叫李明。My name is Li Ming.
5
我用~付款。I’ll pay by ~.
-我用现金付款。I’ll pay by cash.
-我用信用卡付款。I’ll pay by credit card.
-我用手机付款。I’ll pay by phone.
6
给~。Here is ~.
-给你咖啡。Here’s your coffee.
-给您收据。Here’s your receipt.
-给你找零。Here’s your change.
7
冰美式咖啡iced Americano
-I’d like an iced Americano, please.我想要一杯冰美式咖啡，谢谢。
8
贝果bagel
-Could I have a bagel with cream cheese?我可以要一个加奶油奶酪的贝果吗？
9
外带to go / takeout
-I’d like my coffee to go, please.我想要我的咖啡外带，谢谢。
10
付款pay / payment
-I’ll pay by card, please.我用卡付款，谢谢。
11
收据receipt
-Here’s your receipt.这是您的收据。
✨ "Order at a Local Cafe" Practice
The most important thing in language practice is having an environment where you can make mistakes freely and receive corrections. LangTwo is a service that corrects you immediately when you make mistakes.
Below are real examples of people's responses and corrections from LangTwo.
欢迎光临，请问今天想喝点什么？
Welcome! What would you like to drink today?
91
我要一冰美式咖啡，请。
我要一杯冰美式，谢谢。
Total91
Naturality85
Grammar100
Vocabulary95
Score
91(Naturality: 85Grammar: 100Vocabulary: 95)
Summary
The phrase “我要一冰美式咖啡，请” is grammatically correct and understandable, but it sounds slightly unnatural in spoken Chinese because “一冰” is not a typical way to quantify drinks. Native speakers usually say “一杯” (a cup of) when ordering beverages. Using “谢谢” instead of “请” at the end also sounds more natural and polite in everyday conversation.
好的，一杯冰美式咖啡。请问还需要点别的吗？
Okay, one iced Americano. Would you like anything else?
79
是，是，一个贝果请。
是的，要一个贝果，谢谢。
Total79
Naturality70
Grammar90
Vocabulary85
Score
79(Naturality: 70Grammar: 90Vocabulary: 85)
Summary
The phrase “是，是，一个贝果请” is understandable but sounds hesitant and unnatural in Chinese conversation. Repeating “是，是” is not typical in polite ordering contexts. A smoother and more natural way is “是的，要一个贝果，谢谢,” which clearly expresses confirmation and politeness. Avoid unnecessary repetition and use “要” to indicate ordering naturally.
好的，一杯冰美式咖啡和一个贝果。请问要外带还是内用呢？
Okay, one iced Americano and one bagel. Would you like that to go or for here?
89
要外卖，请。
要外带，谢谢。
Total89
Naturality85
Grammar95
Vocabulary90
Score
89(Naturality: 85Grammar: 95Vocabulary: 90)
Summary
The phrase “要外卖，请。” is understandable but slightly unnatural in a café context. In Chinese, “外卖” usually refers to food delivery, not takeout. The more natural expression when ordering in person is “外带” or “打包”. Therefore, “要外带，谢谢。” sounds more natural and polite in this situation.
好的，外带一杯冰美式和一个贝果。请问可以告诉我您的名字吗？
Okay, one iced Americano and one bagel for takeout. May I have your name, please?
83
我名字是艾玛。
我叫艾玛。
Total83
Naturality70
Grammar90
Vocabulary100
Score
83(Naturality: 70Grammar: 90Vocabulary: 100)
Summary
The phrase “我名字是艾玛” is understandable but not natural in spoken Chinese. Native speakers typically use “我叫~” to introduce their name in everyday conversation. The structure “我名字是~” sounds overly literal and slightly awkward. Use “我叫~” for natural, fluent self-introduction.
谢谢艾玛，请问您要用什么方式付款？
Thank you, Emma. How would you like to pay?
91
我用卡付钱。
我用卡付款。
Total91
Naturality85
Grammar100
Vocabulary95
Score
91(Naturality: 85Grammar: 100Vocabulary: 95)
Summary
The phrase “我用卡付钱” is grammatically correct and understandable, but native speakers more naturally say “我用卡付款,” which sounds smoother and more concise in everyday conversation. The word “付款” is the standard expression for “to make a payment,” especially in service contexts like cafes or stores.
好的，请把卡给我。
Okay, please hand me your card.
90
给你啦。
给你。
Total90
Naturality85
Grammar100
Vocabulary90
Score
90(Naturality: 85Grammar: 100Vocabulary: 90)
Summary
“给你啦” is understandable and friendly, but the particle “啦” makes it sound slightly childish or overly casual in a service context. In a café or transactional situation, native speakers usually say “给你” or “给您” for a polite tone. Use “给你” for neutral friendliness or “给您” for respectful politeness.
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