Bubble tea is one of the most satisfying first conversations to have in Chinese. It’s short and predictable, and you get a drink at the end. The questions always come in the same order, so once you know them you’ll understand every step.
The questions you’ll be asked
| They ask | Pinyin | Meaning | You answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 喝点什么？ | hē diǎn shénme? | What can I get you? | 我要一杯珍珠奶茶。 |
| 大杯还是中杯？ | dà bēi háishi zhōng bēi? | Large or medium? | 大杯吧。 |
| 甜度呢？ | tiándù ne? | How sweet? | 三分糖吧。 |
| 冰的还是热的？ | bīng de háishi rè de? | Iced or hot? | 冰的，少冰。 |
| 要加料吗？ | yào jiā liào ma? | Any toppings? | 不用了，谢谢。 |
| 在这儿喝还是带走？ | zài zhèr hē háishi dàizǒu? | For here or to go? | 带走，谢谢。 |
Notice the pattern: A 还是 B? (háishi) means “A or B?”. Just repeat the one you want, and add 吧 (ba) to make it sound relaxed.
Sugar: count in tenths
Shops measure sweetness in tenths (分, fēn):
- 全糖 quán táng — full sugar
- 七分糖 qī fēn táng — 70%
- 五分糖 wǔ fēn táng, or 半糖 bàn táng — 50%
- 三分糖 sān fēn táng — 30%
- 不加糖 bù jiā táng — no added sugar
Full sugar is very sweet. Many locals go for 三分糖, and 别太甜 (bié tài tián, “not too sweet”) is a handy add-on.
Ice
- 正常冰 zhèngcháng bīng — normal ice
- 少冰 shǎo bīng — less ice
- 去冰 qù bīng — no ice (still cold)
- 常温 chángwēn — room temperature
- 热的 rè de — hot
Not every drink can be made hot. If it can’t, you’ll hear 这款不能做热的 (zhè kuǎn bù néng zuò rè de, “this one can’t be made hot”).
Toppings
加料 (jiā liào) means adding toppings. The classics are 珍珠 (zhēnzhū, tapioca pearls), 椰果 (yēguǒ, coconut jelly) and 布丁 (bùdīng, pudding). To ask for one: 可以加椰果吗？ (kěyǐ jiā yēguǒ ma?, “Can I add coconut jelly?”).
The whole order, the way it really goes
This is the conversation from Mandarin Hero’s bubble tea lesson:
你好，喝点什么？也可以扫码点单。 — Hi, what can I get you? You can also scan to order.
我就在这儿点吧。你们家招牌是什么？ — I’ll just order here. What’s your signature drink?
黑糖珍珠鲜奶，芝士葡萄也卖得很好。 — Brown sugar pearls with fresh milk. The cheese-foam grape tea sells well too.
那要一杯黑糖珍珠鲜奶。 — Then one brown sugar pearl milk, please.
大杯还是中杯？ — Large or medium?
大杯吧。 — Large, please.
甜度呢？全糖、七分、五分、三分都有。 — How sweet? Full, 70%, 50% or 30%.
三分糖吧，别太甜。 — 30%, please. Not too sweet.
冰的还是热的？ — Iced or hot?
冰的，少冰。 — Iced, but less ice.
在这儿喝还是带走？ — For here or to go?
带走，谢谢。 — To go, thanks.
一共十八。这是你的取餐号，三十二号，好了会叫你。 — That’s 18. Here’s your order number, 32. We’ll call you when it’s ready.
The short version
If you only remember one line, make it this:
大杯，少冰，半糖。 Dà bēi, shǎo bīng, bàn táng. — Large, less ice, half sugar.
It answers three questions at once, and staff hear it all day.
Then listen for your number: 三十二号！ (sānshí’èr hào). If it’s taking a while, you can ask 三十二号好了吗？ (“Is number 32 ready?”).