会背 I'd like this 还不够:服务员先问几位、饮料要什么,接着可能问你是否有忌口、菜是否需要分开上,最后才轮到结账。把这几轮互动连成一次完整对话,才容易在真实餐桌边说出来。
入座与看菜单
Server: Hi, how many?
You: A table for two, please.
Server: Can I get you something to drink?
You: Just water for now, thanks. Could we have a few more minutes with the menu?
A table for two, please 比只说 Two people 更完整。还没选好时说 Could we have a few more minutes?,不是把服务员赶走,而是清楚地请求多一点时间。准备好后可以接 We're ready to order.
点餐时顺便说清忌口与做法
- Could I get the grilled chicken with the sauce on the side? —— 我要烤鸡,酱汁另外放。
on the side是酱料或配菜不直接放主菜里。 - Does this contain peanuts? I'm allergic to them. —— 这道菜含花生吗?我对花生过敏。
- Could you make it without cilantro? —— 可以不要香菜吗?
食物过敏不要只用 I don't like... 代替。口味偏好可以说 without,过敏则明确说 I'm allergic to...,必要时问 Could you check with the kitchen? 餐厅是否能避免交叉接触要由店方确认,你不确定就继续问,不因背会一句英文就假定安全。
如果只想少辣,说 Could you make it mild, please?;服务员问 How would you like your eggs? 时可以答 Scrambled, please. 或 Sunny-side up, please.。这些不是全世界固定菜单,但属于常见的早餐表达。
上错菜或需要补充时
Excuse me, I ordered the soup, but this is the salad. Could you check, please?
先说订单与实际收到的差异,再请对方核对。This isn't what I ordered 也能用,但补上具体菜名会更高效。需要餐巾纸可以说 Could we have some extra napkins?;请同事或朋友递东西则用 Could you pass me the salt?,别把两种请求混成对全桌的命令。
结账、分开付和打包
- Could we have the check, please? —— 美式英语常用
check指餐厅账单;英式英语常说 Could we have the bill, please? - Could we split the bill? —— 可以分开付吗?先问店方能否按人拆单,再说 I'll pay for mine separately.
- Could I get this to go? —— 剩下的想带走时可以这样问;英式语境也常说 Could I get a takeaway?
Could I pay by card? 用来确认能否刷卡;小费怎么给因国家和场景而异,可在国外小费英语与礼仪里单独看。不要把服务费、税费和小费都概括成同一个 tip。
一分钟开口练
- 按真实同行人数说 A table for..., please,再接 Could we have a few more minutes?。
- 选一道你常点的菜,用 Could I get...? 说完,再补一个真实需求:
on the side、without...或mild。 - 最后连续练 Excuse me, I ordered... 和 Could we have the check, please?,把“纠正问题”和“结账”都带入反射。
像话 可以把你今天真正想吃的菜变成练习材料:先自己说,听更自然的版本,再跟读比较。如果菜名想不起来,不必沉默,用卡词时的描述法先把原料和口味说清楚。
参考资料
- BBC Learning English: Real Easy English — Talking about restaurants:以真实对话介绍餐厅相关表达，并提供 I'll have...、Can I have...、Can I get... 等点餐句型。
*像话 MirrorSay 是免费的口语练习 App:你先说,它给出母语者版本并读给你听,再跟读对比。无需注册,语音尽可能在设备端处理。*