Learn the words first
水
shuǐ
water
茶
chá
tea
米饭
mǐfàn
cooked rice
面条
miàntiáo
noodles
要
yào
to want
辣
là
spicy
Useful pattern
Use 我要… (I want / would like…) to order. A bowl is 一碗 yì wǎn; a cup or glass is 一杯 yì bēi. These measure words go between the number and the noun. In 一碗 and 一杯, 一 is pronounced yì before a third or first tone. 我不吃辣 means I do not eat spicy food.
Try it in a conversation
Read both turns below. Listen to the question, then practise the reply. Replace one word using this lesson’s vocabulary.
Examples to read and repeat
我要一碗面条。
Wǒ yào yì wǎn miàntiáo.
I would like a bowl of noodles.
我不吃辣。
Wǒ bù chī là.
I do not eat spicy food.
请给我一杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
Please give me a glass of water.