Sometimes problems may happen in restaurants in China, such as wrong orders, communication issues, or food quality concerns.
This page provides useful Chinese phrases to help you solve common restaurant problems politely and clearly.
You can also show these phrases on your phone if needed.
🍽 This is not what I ordered.
Chinese: 这不是我点的餐。
Pinyin: zhè bú shì wǒ diǎn de cān
English: This is not what I ordered.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Here’s your beef noodles.
A: 这是您的牛肉面。
B: This is not what I ordered. I ordered chicken rice.
B: 这不是我点的餐，我点的鸡肉饭。
💡 Tip:
Say this when the restaurant serves you the wrong dish or drink.
🍽 The food is cold.
Chinese: 饭菜凉了。
Pinyin: fàn cài liáng le
English: The food is cold.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: How is your steak?
A: 您的牛排味道怎么样？
B: The food is cold. Could you reheat it?
B: 饭菜凉了，可以帮忙加热一下吗？
💡 Tip:
Use to complain when your meal is no longer warm.
🍽 It is too spicy.
Chinese: 太辣了。
Pinyin: tài là le
English: It is too spicy.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Do you like this hot pot broth?
A: 您喜欢这个火锅汤底吗？
B: It is too spicy. My mouth hurts.
B: 太辣了，我的嘴受不了。
💡 Tip:
Tell staff if the dish has too much chili and you cannot eat it.
🍽 I cannot eat this.
Chinese: 这个我吃不了。
Pinyin: zhè ge wǒ chī bù liǎo
English: I cannot eat this.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Is there any problem with your dish?
A: 您的菜品有什么问题吗？
B: I cannot eat this. It’s way too salty.
B: 这个我吃不了，实在太咸了。
💡 Tip:
General phrase to show the food is unsuitable for you for any reason.
🍽 Please change it.
Chinese: 麻烦帮我换一份。
Pinyin: má fan bāng wǒ huàn yí fèn
English: Please change it.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Sorry for serving you cold soup.
A: 很抱歉给您上了凉掉的汤。
B: Please change it for a new one.
B: 麻烦帮我换一份新的。
💡 Tip:
Request a new replacement dish when the original one has problems.
🍽 There is a mistake in the bill.
Chinese: 账单算错了。
Pinyin: zhàng dān suàn cuò le
English: There is a mistake in the bill.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Your total is 180 yuan.
A: 您一共消费 180 元。
B: There is a mistake in the bill. We didn’t order this drink.
B: 账单算错了，我们没有点这款饮品。
💡 Tip:
Use when you find extra, wrong or duplicated charges on your receipt.
🍽 I need help.
Chinese: 麻烦过来一下，我需要帮忙。
Pinyin: má fan guò lái yí xià, wǒ xū yào bāng máng
English: I need help.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Can I help you?
A: 请问有什么需要？
B: I need help. There’s something wrong with my food.
B: 我需要帮忙，我的餐品出了点问题。
💡 Tip:
Simple polite phrase to call waiters over to your table.
🍽 This tastes strange.
Chinese: 这个味道怪怪的。
Pinyin: zhè ge wèi dào guài guài de
English: This tastes strange.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Is the seafood okay?
A: 海鲜吃着没问题吗？
B: This tastes strange, please take it away.
B: 这个味道怪怪的，请拿走。
💡 Tip:
Say this if the food smells or tastes off, possibly spoiled.
🍽 There is hair in my food.
Chinese: 菜里有头发。
Pinyin: cài lǐ yǒu tóu fa
English: There is hair in my food.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: What’s wrong?
A: 出什么问题了？
B: There is hair in my food, I want a new meal.
B: 菜里有头发，我想要一份新的。
💡 Tip:
For hygiene complaints with foreign objects inside dishes.
🍽 It is too salty.
Chinese: 太咸了。
Pinyin: tài xián le
English: It is too salty.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: How about the braised pork?
A: 红烧肉口感怎么样？
B: It is too salty, I can’t finish it.
B: 太咸了，我吃不完。
💡 Tip:
Complaint for over-seasoned dishes with too much salt.
🍽 I want a refund.
Chinese: 我想要退款。
Pinyin: wǒ xiǎng yào tuì kuǎn
English: I want a refund.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: We cannot fix this dish for you.
A: 这份菜品没办法为您更换。
B: Then I want a refund.
B: 那我想要退款。
💡 Tip:
Use when you refuse replacement and want your money back.
🍽 Can I speak to the manager?
Chinese: 我能找经理过来吗？
Pinyin: wǒ néng zhǎo jīng lǐ guò lái ma
English: Can I speak to the manager?
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: I can’t solve this problem for you.
A: 这个问题我处理不了。
B: Can I speak to the manager?
B: 我能找经理过来吗？
💡 Tip:
Ask to talk to management if waiters cannot fix your complaint.
Travel Tip
Most restaurants in China are used to helping foreign customers.
If there is a problem, stay calm and use simple phrases or show the text on your phone.
Politeness is very important when communicating in China.