Air travel in Chinese: In flight food and beverage service

In this Part 3 of my series on Air Travel in Chinese, I will provide you with a sample Chinese dialogue, phrases and vocabulary you will need for the meal and beverage service when flying.

Please check out the other posts in my Air Travel in Chinese series:

Dialogue


chéngyuán /  Flight Attendant:
We will be serving lunch in fifteen minutes.
huìzàishífēnzhōngnèigōngcān.
wǒ huì zài shíwǔ fēnzhōng nèi gōng cān.

<fifteen minutes later>

What would you like to eat for lunch, chicken or fish?
zhōngfànxiǎngchīshénme,háishi?
zhōngfàn xiǎng chī shénme, yú háishì jī?

/  Customer:
Please give me the chicken.

qǐnggěiláifènròufàn.
qǐng gěi wǒ lái fèn jīròu fàn.

Here you go. Enjoy your meal.
gěinín.xièxie.qǐngmànyòng.
gěi nín. xièxiè. qǐng màn yòng.

<later>

Would you mind me taking these things away?
nínjièzhèxiēdōng西xizǒuma?
nín jièyì wǒ bǎ zhèxiē dōngxī ná zǒu ma?

Thank you.
xièxie.
xièxiè.


Dialogue Breakdown

We will be serving lunch in fifteen minutes.
huìzàishífēnzhōngnèigōngcān.
huì zài shífēnzhōngnèi gōngcān
huì zài shíwǔ fēnzhōng nèi gōng cān
we will in within 15 minutes service food (food service)

Notes:

  • shífēnzhōngnèi (shíwǔ fēnzhōng nèi) literally means “fifteen shí (shíwǔ) “minutes” fēnzhōng (fēnzhōng) “within” nèi (nèi). If you need further understanding of time check out my post on how to tell the time in Chinese.
  • nèi (nèi) means “within” or “inside”, for example:
    • “within two years” liǎngniánnèi (liǎng niánnèi)
    • “within twenty-four hours” 2244xiǎoshínèi (èrshísì xiǎoshí nèi)
    • “inside the boat” zàichuánnèi (zài chuánnèi)
  • Note that while nèi (nèi) means “inside”, this isn’t commonly used for vehicles, for example:
    • “in the car” zàichē (zài chē lǐ) where (lǐ) means “inside”
    • “on the plane” zàifēishàng (zài fēijī shàng) where shàng (shàng) means “upon”.

What would you like to eat for lunch, chicken or fish?
zhōngfànxiǎngchīshénme,háishi?
zhōngfàn xiǎng chī shénme háishi
zhōngfàn xiǎng chī shénme háishì
lunch want eat what fish or chicken

Notes:

  • zhōngfàn (zhōngfàn) means lunch, other vocabulary that is important is:
    • “lunch” fàn ( wǔfàn ), this is an alternative to zhōngfàn (zhōngfàn
    • “breakfast” zǎocān (zǎocān)
    • “dinner” wǎnfàn (wǎnfàn)
  • (yú) means “fish” and (jī) means “chicken”. Normally you would say “fish meat” or “chicken meat”; here are some examples:
    • “fish meat” ròu (yúròu)
    • “chicken meat” ròu (jīròu)
    • “beef (cow meat)” niúròu (niúròu)
    • “pork (pig meat)” zhūròu (zhūròu)

Please give me the chicken.
qǐnggěiláifènròufàn.
qǐng gěi lái fèn ròufàn
qǐng gěi lái fèn jīròu fàn
please give me <to come> <classifier> chicken rice

Notes:

  • gěilái (gěi wǒ lái) means “bring me”, however the lái (lái) character isn’t strictly needed and the speaker could have just said “give me” gěi (gěi wǒ). Although it doesn’t really matter, I see the difference as being whether the person you are talking to is just giving you something they have in hand, or they are fetching you something from somewhere that they don’t have with them:
    • ”please bring me a cup of tea” qǐngssttrroonngg>>gěilái//ssttrroonngg>>bēichá (qǐng gěi wǒ lái bēi chá)
    • ”please give me a cup of tea” qǐngssttrroonngg>>gěi//ssttrroonngg>>bēichá (qǐng gěi wǒ bēi chá)
  • fèn (fèn) is he classifier or measure word that means “portion” or “share”, so the speaker is asking for one portion of chicken rice (that is a chicken and rice dish).

If you want to know more about classifiers, check out my post on Chinese Classifiers: What are they and how to use them as well as my complete list of Mandarin Chinese classifiers and measure words.


In-flight Meal Service – Chinese Dialogue

Here you go. Enjoy your meal.
gěinín.xièxie.qǐngmànyòng.
gěinín xièxie qǐng mànyòng
gěi nín xièxiè qǐng màn yòng
give you thank you please enjoy your meal

Notes:

  • gěinín (gěi nín) literally means “give you”, however what it actually means is “here you go”. You may also see it written as gěi (gěi nǐ), which uses the standard word for “you” (nǐ) rather than the polite form nín (nín). In the service industry you will more commonly find staff referring to their customers using nín (nín).
  • mànyòng (màn yòng) means “enjoy your meal”, although more precisely means “eat slowly”. Taking it easy or slowly is a common way or wishing someone well in Chinese, for example if you are leaving someone may tell you to “walk slowly” mànzǒu (man zǒu), however what is mean is “take care” or really just ‘goodbye”.

Would you mind me taking these thing away?
nínjièzhèxiēdōng西xizǒuma?
nín jiè zhèxiē dōng西xi zǒu ma
nín jièyì zhèxiē dōngxī ná zǒu ma
you mind I <regarding> these things take away <question>

Notees:

  • This sentence uses (bǎ) which makes the noun following it a “direct object”, or to put more simply it is emphasising the “these things” zhèxiēdōng西xi (zhèxiē dōngxī) rather than the act of them away zǒu (ná zǒu). Here is the same sentence written with and without (bǎ):
    • “would you mind me taking these things away?” nínjièzhèxiēdōng西xizǒuma? (nín jièyì wǒ bǎ zhèxiē dōngxī ná zǒu ma?)
    • “would you mind me taking away these things?” nínjièzǒu zhèxiēdōng西xima? (nín jièyì wǒ ná zǒu zhèxiē dōngxī ma?)
  • c

Thank you.
xièxie.
xièxie
xièxiè
thank you

In-flight Drink Service – Chinese Dialogue


chéngyuán /  Flight Attendant:
Now we’ll be serving drinks.

menshàngyàogōngyìngyǐnliàole.
wǒmen mǎshàng yào gōngyìng yǐnliàole.

What would you like to drink?
nínyàodiǎnshénme??
nín yào hē diǎn shénme?

/  Customer:
I’ll have tea please

chá,xièxie.
chá, xièxiè.

Sugar (in your tea)?
(chá)jiātángma?
(nǐ hē chá) jiātáng ma?

No (black).
yào.
bùyào.

Do you have milk (in your tea)?
(chá)jiāniúnǎima?
(nǐ hē chá) jiā niúnǎi ma?

No. I take it black without sugar
.jiāniúnǎi,,jiātáng.
bù. wǒ bù jiā niúnǎi, bù jiātáng.

Please pull down your tray table.
qǐngfàngxiàníndexiǎozhuōbǎn.
qǐng fàngxià nín de xiǎo zhuō bǎn.


Dialogue Breakdown

Now we’ll be serving drinks.
menshàngyàogōngyìngyǐnliàole.
men shàng yào gōngyìng yǐnliào le
wǒmen mǎshàng yào gōngyìng yǐnliào le
we right now will offer beverage
/ drink
<tense>

Notes:

  • shàng (mǎshàng) means “immediately” or “right now”, which you may have seen written as shàngjiù (mǎshàng jiù), for example:
    • “I have to go right away” ssttrroonngg>>shàngjiù//ssttrroonngg>>děizǒule (wǒ mǎshàng jiù dé zǒule)
    • “I’ll pay you immediatelyssttrroonngg>>jiù//ssttrroonngg>>gěi (wǒ mǎshàng jiù fù gěi nǐ)
    • “the train is about to leave” huǒchēssttrroonngg>>shàng//ssttrroonngg>>yàokāile (huǒchē mǎshàng yào kāile)
  • gōngyìng (gōngyìng) means “to supply” or “to offer”:
    • Adding “商” (shāng), which means “commerce” or “merchant”, changes the meaning to “supplier” gōngyìngshāng (gōngyìng shāng)
    • “do you serve (provide) breakfast?” ssttrroonngg>>gōngyìng//ssttrroonngg>>zǎocānma (nǐ gōngyìng zǎocān ma)
  • yǐnliào (yǐnliào) is a generic word for a drink or beverage in English. For example:
    • “Let me pay for your drinkgěissttrroonngg>>yǐnliào//ssttrroonngg>>qián (wǒ gěi nǐ fù yǐnliào qián)
    • “I really got (want) to have a drink“ 我很想来杯饮料 (wǒ hěn xiǎnglái yībēi yǐnliào)

What would you like to drink?
nínyàodiǎnshénme??
yào diǎn shénme
yào hē diǎn shénme
you want have a drink of what

Notes:

  • diǎn (hē diǎn) means to “have a drink of”, here are some examples:
    • “what do you want to drink?” ssttrroonngg>>diǎn//ssttrroonngg>>shénme? (hē diǎn shénme)
    • ”I really want a drinkxiànzàihěnxiǎngssttrroonngg>>diǎn//ssttrroonngg>>dōng西xi (wǒ xiànzài hěn xiǎng hē diǎn dōngxī)

I’ll have tea please
chá,xièxie.
chá xièxie
chá xièxiè
tea thank you

Notes:

  • chá (chá) means “tea” in Chinese and is a word you should ensure you are familiar with.
  • The person could have responded with “I’ll have tea” yàochá (wǒ yào hē chá) rather than just “tea” chá (chá), however either is perfectly acceptable.

Sugar (in your tea)?
(chá)jiātángma?
chá jiā táng ma
chá jiā táng ma
you drink tea add sugar <question>

Notes:

  • jiā táng (jiā táng) means “add sugar”, and is a phrase you should remember. You can use jiā (jiā) in other situations, for example:
    • Would you like to add sugar or milk in your coffee? yàozàidefēizhōngjiātánghuòniúnǎima? (nǐ yào zài nǐ de kāfēi zhōng jiātáng huò niúnǎi ma)
    • Do you add sugar to the tea? chájiātángma? (nǐ hē chá jiātáng ma?)

No (black).
yào.
yào
bùyào
no (don’t want)

Do you have milk (in your tea)?
(chá)jiāniúnǎima?
nín chá jiā niúnǎi ma
nín chá jiā niúnǎi ma
you drink tea add milk <question>

Notes:

  • I’ve already covered how to use “add” jiā (jiā) above.
  • niúnǎi (niúnǎi) means “cows milk”, literally broken down the characters are “cow” niú (niú) and “milk” nǎi (nǎi).

No. I take it black without sugar
.jiāniúnǎi,,jiātáng.
jiā niúnǎi jiā táng
bù jiā niúnǎi bù jiā táng
no I don’t add milk (and) don’t add sugar

Notes:

  • jiā (bù jiā) uses the negative (bù) to changes “ad”jiā (jiā) into “not add” jiā (bù jiā)
  • jiā (bù jiā) is repeated twice, which is perfectly normal in Chinese however in English we would be more likely to say “don’t add milk and sugar” jiāniúnǎitáng (bù jiā niúnǎi hé táng)

Please pull down your tray table.
qǐngfàngxiàníndexiǎozhuōbǎn.
qǐng fàngxià nínde xiǎozhuōbǎn
qǐng fàngxià nín de xiǎo zhuō bǎn
please put down you tray table

Notes:

  • fàngxià (fàngxià) means to “put down” or “lay down”, here are some examples:
    • “I put down the book” fàngxiàshū (wǒ fàngxià shū)
    • “I put the phone down” fàngxiàdiànhuà (wǒ fàngxià diànhuà)
    • “put down (your) weapons!” fàngxià! (fàng xià wǔ)
    • “(why not) lay down for a few minutes”? fàngxiàfēnzhōngba? (fàngxià jǐ fēnzhōng ba?), however this same phrase could also be take to mean to “(why not) put it down for a few minutes?”
  • xiǎozhuōbǎn (xiǎo zhuō bǎn) literally means “small table board”, with the word for “table”, as in for a dinner table is zhuōzi (zhuōzi)
  • The flight attendant could have asked this a question rather than making this statement, for example:
    • “Can I open your tray table for you” néngbāngnínkāixiǎozhuōbǎnma? (wǒ néng bāng nín dǎkāi xiǎo zhuō bǎn ma)

Vocabulary

Dialogue Vocabulary

Here is the key vocabulary from the above diaolgues.

English Chinese Pronunciation (Pinyin)
flight attendant chéngyuán chéngwùyuán
customer gùkè
minutes fēnzhōng fēnzhōng
inside / within nèi nèi
provide gōng gōng
meal cān cān
lunch zhōngfàn zhōngfàn
to want xiǎng xiǎng
eat chī chī
fish
or (question) háishi háishì
chicken
please qǐng qǐng
bring me gěilái gěi wǒ lái
portion fèn fèn
chicken rice ròufàn jīròu fàn
here you go gěinín gěi nín
enjoy your meal qǐngmànyòng qǐng màn yòng
to mind jiè jièyì
these things zhèxiēdōng西xi zhèxiē dōngxī
take away zǒu ná zǒu
right now / immediately shàng mǎshàng
provide gōngyìng gōngyìng
drink / beverage yǐnliào yǐnliàole
want yào yào
to drink
some diǎn diǎn
what shénme shénme
tea chá chá
add… jiā jiā
sugar táng táng
milk niúnǎi niúnǎi
add sugar jiātáng jiātáng
add milk jiāniúnǎi jiā niúnǎi
don’t want yào bùyào
please qǐng qǐng
put down fàngxià fàngxià
tray table xiǎozhuōbǎn xiǎo zhuō bǎn

Phrases

Dialogue Phrases

Here are the phrases from the vocabulary.

English Chinese Pronunciation (Pinyin)
We will be serving lunch in fifteen minutes. huìzàishífēnzhōngnèigōngcān. wǒ huì zài shíwǔ fēnzhōng nèi gōng cān.
What would you like to eat for lunch, chicken or fish? zhōngfànxiǎngchīshénme,háishi? zhōngfàn xiǎng chī shénme, yú háishì jī?
Please give me the chicken. qǐnggěiláifènròufàn. qǐng gěi wǒ lái fèn jīròu fàn.
Here you go. Enjoy your meal. gěinín.xièxie.qǐngmànyòng. gěi nín. xièxiè. qǐng màn yòng.
Would you mind me taking these things away? nínjièzhèxiēdōng西xizǒuma? nín jièyì wǒ bǎ zhèxiē dōngxī ná zǒu ma?
Thank you. xièxie. xièxiè.
Now we’ll be serving drinks. menshàngyàogōngyìngyǐnliàole. wǒmen mǎshàng yào gōngyìng yǐnliàole.
What would you like to drink? nínyàodiǎnshénme?? nín yào hē diǎn shénme?
I’ll have tea please chá,xièxie. chá, xièxiè.
Sugar (in your tea)? (chá)jiātángma? (nǐ hē chá) jiātáng ma?
No (black). yào. bùyào.
Do you have milk (in your tea)? (chá)jiāniúnǎima? (nǐ hē chá) jiā niúnǎi ma?
No. I take it black without sugar .jiāniúnǎi,,jiātáng. bù. wǒ bù jiā niúnǎi, bù jiātáng.
Please pull down your tray table. qǐngfàngxiàníndexiǎozhuōbǎn. qǐng fàngxià nín de xiǎo zhuō bǎn.

Wrapping it up

Look out for my next post on landing and disembarking from the plane.