Café & Drinks

1. 一杯珍珠奶茶，多謝。

   Tsi̍t-pue tin-tsu-ling-tê, to-siā.

   One bubble tea, please. Thank you.

   Usage

   Used to order the iconic Taiwanese bubble tea

   Grammar Note

   to-siā (多謝) is the Taiwanese expression for "thank you," equivalent to Mandarin xièxiè

2. 我欲甜度五分、冰塊少。

   Guá beh tinn-tōo gōo-hun, ping-tè tsió.

   I want 50% sweetness and less ice.

   Usage

   The standard way to customize a drink order at a Taiwanese drink shop

   Grammar Note

   Taiwan drink shops let customers customize sweetness and ice in tenths (0, 3, 5, 7, 10)

3. 有無愛玉茶？

   Ū bô ài-giô-tê?

   Do you have aiyu jelly tea?

   Usage

   Used to ask for a Taiwanese specialty drink made with aiyu jelly

   Grammar Note

   ū bô (有無) is the Taiwanese yes/no question pattern for existence

4. 高山茶真好啉。

   Ko-suann-tê tsin hó-lim.

   High mountain tea is really delicious.

   Usage

   Used to compliment Taiwanese high-mountain oolong tea

   Grammar Note

   hó-lim (好喝) means "delicious to drink"; hó-tsia̍h (好食) is used for food

5. 甘蔗汁有現榨的無？

   Kam-tsià-tsiap ū hiān-tsà--ê bô?

   Do you have freshly squeezed sugarcane juice?

   Usage

   Used to ask for fresh sugarcane juice at a Taiwanese stall

   Grammar Note

   In Taiwanese, hiān (現) + verb indicates "freshly done" or "done on the spot"

6. 這款麥仔酒是台灣的無？

   Tsit-khuán be̍h-á-tsiú sī Tâi-uân--ê bô?

   Is this beer Taiwanese?

   Usage

   The Taiwanese word is 麥仔酒 (be̍h-á-tsiú); bì-lù, from Japanese, is also widely spoken. Used to ask if a beer is locally brewed in Taiwan.

   Grammar Note

   khuán (款) is a Taiwanese classifier meaning "kind/type"

7. 我袂啉酒，請你予我果汁。

   Guá bē lim tsiú, tshiánn lí hōo guá kué-tsiap.

   I cannot drink alcohol. Please give me fruit juice.

   Usage

   Used to decline alcohol and request a non-alcoholic alternative

   Grammar Note

   bē lim (袂啉) means "cannot drink". lim (啉) is the Taiwanese verb "to drink", and bē (袂) before it makes it "unable to"

8. 冰的抑是燒的？

   Ping--ê ia̍h-sī sio--ê?

   Cold drink or hot drink?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the temperature preference for a drink

   Grammar Note

   ia̍h-sī (抑是) is the Taiwanese conjunction "or" in choice questions

9. 這杯咖啡是幾箍錢？

   Tsit-pue ka-pi sī kuí-khoo tsînn?

   How much is this coffee?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of a coffee

   Grammar Note

   kuí-khoo tsînn (幾箍錢) is the Taiwanese expression for asking "how much"

10. 你有無紙吸管？

    Lí ū bô tsuá khip-kuán?

    Do you have paper straws?

    Usage

    Used to request eco-friendly paper straws

    Grammar Note

    ū bô (有無) is the "do you have …?" question pattern (have or not). 吸管 (khip-kuán) is a drinking straw

11. 燒水

    Sio-tsuí

    Hot water (boiled)

    Usage

    Use when asking for water that has been boiled

12. 免冰

    Bián ping

    No ice

    Usage

    Refuse ice when ordering a drink

13. 礦泉水

    Khòng-tsuânn-tsuí

    Bottled mineral water

    Usage

    Point at it when you want to avoid unbottled water

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