Restaurant reservations: Checking table availability for specific dates and times.
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Key Phrases
我想訂座位
wǒ xiǎng dìng zuò wèi
I would like to book a table
已經幫您預訂好了
yǐ jīng bāng nín yù dìng hǎo le
Your reservation is confirmed
請問您的名字是
qǐng wèn nín de míng zì shì
May I have your name
Skills You'll Learn
Making a reservation
訂位
dìng wèi
Responding to availability
回應可用性
huí yīng kě yòng xìng
Providing personal details
提供個人資料
tí gōng gè rén zī liào
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are calling a restaurant to make a reservation. The conversation involves checking the availability of tables and confirming a booking for a specific day and time. You need to provide your name and contact information to finalize the reservation.
你好，我想訂餐廳的座位。
nǐ hǎo wǒ xiǎng dìng cān tīng de zuò wèi
Hello, I would like to book a table at the restaurant.
你好，請問您想訂哪一天的座位？
nǐ hǎo qǐng wèn nín xiǎng dìng nǎ yī tiān de zuò wèi
Hello, which day would you like to book a table for?
我想訂這個星期六晚上七點的座位。
wǒ xiǎng dìng zhè gè xīng qī liù wǎn shàng qī diǎn de zuò wèi
I would like to book a table for this Saturday at 7 PM.
好的，請稍等，我查一下座位是否有空。
hǎo de qǐng shāo děng wǒ chá yī xià zuò wèi shì fǒu yǒu kòng
Okay, please wait a moment while I check the availability.
非常抱歉，星期六晚上七點的座位已經被訂滿了，請問您可以換其他時間嗎？
fēi cháng bào qiàn xīng qī liù wǎn shàng qī diǎn de zuò wèi yǐ jīng bèi dìng mǎn le qǐng wèn nín kě yǐ huàn qí tā shí jiān ma
I'm very sorry, but all tables for Saturday at 7 PM are fully booked. Could you choose a different time?
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
你好
nǐ hǎo
Hello
我
wǒ
I
想
xiǎng
Want
💬 [想] before a verb often works like "would like to" or "want to": [想訂座位], [想改時間]. It's a very reusable pattern for polite requests in everyday speech.
See breakdown →訂
dìng
Reserve
💬 In Taiwan, [訂] is commonly used for booking or reserving things: [訂位] for a table, [訂房] for a room. You can swap the second part to talk about different kinds of reservations.
See breakdown →座位
zuò wèi
Seat
💬 For restaurant bookings, Taiwanese Mandarin often says [訂位] more naturally than [訂座位]. [座位] does mean "seat," but [位] is the usual word in reservation talk.
See breakdown →我想訂座位
wǒ xiǎng dìng zuò wèi
I would like to book a table
💬 [想] + verb is a handy softener: [我想訂座位] sounds less blunt than just [我要訂座位]. Use the same pattern in [我想改時間] or [我想確認一下].
See breakdown →哪
nǎ
Which
💬 [哪] usually combines with a measure or category word to ask "which": [哪一天] (which day), [哪一位] (which person). On its own, it often needs that extra word after it.
See breakdown →一天
yī tiān
Day
哪一天
nǎ yī tiān
Which day
💬 [哪] + time word is a useful question pattern: [哪一天] (which day), [哪個時間] (which time). Swap the second part to ask for different choices.
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More from "Restaurant reservations"
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Specifying any dietary restrictions or special requests.
Restaurant reservations Part 2
Understanding cancellation policies and deadlines.
Restaurant reservations Part 2
Inquiring about parking or valet services.
Restaurant reservations Part 2
Confirming the reservation details, including date, time, and number of guests.
Restaurant reservations Part 3
Asking about any ongoing promotions or special menus.
Restaurant reservations Part 3
Requesting accommodations for special occasions, such as birthdays or anniversaries.
Restaurant reservations Part 3
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