订位
dìngwèi
To reserve a table in Chinese is 订位 (dìngwèi).
The phrase is used to arrange for a table to be kept for you at a restaurant for a specific time. While the literal translation involves 'seats', 订位 is the standard way to express reserving a table in a restaurant context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 订 (dìng), meaning to book or order and 位 (wèi), a measure word for people or a way to refer to a seat or position.
Which one should you use?
The standard form is 订位. If you want to be more formal, use 预订座位. For a more casual or informal tone, you can use 订个座.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, one might say 我想訂枱 to mean 'reserve a table'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can also say 订位子 to refer more specifically to the physical seat or place. Adding the noun suffix 子 (zi) to 位 (wèi) makes the term more colloquial.
How do you pronounce it?
dìngwèi
Did you know?
- In traditional banquet settings, reserving a 'seat' 位 can be a matter of strict social hierarchy. The 'head' seat is reserved for the most senior guest, and sitting in the wrong 'reserved' spot can be a major social faux pas.
- In highly competitive cities like Shanghai or Beijing, reserving a table often involves using apps like Meituan or WeChat. A digital 'reservation' is often a ticket that must be scanned at the door to prove your spot.
- In many Chinese restaurants, you do not reserve a specific table, but rather a 'position' for a certain number of people. The restaurant will assign the actual table based on your group size upon arrival.
Examples in context
- 我想订一个位子。I would like to reserve a table/seat.
- 我想订位。Wǒ xiǎng dìngwèi.I want to reserve a table.
- 请问可以订位吗？Qǐngwèn kěyǐ dìngwèi ma?Excuse me, can I reserve a table?
- 我已经订位了。Wǒ yǐjīng dìngwèi le.I have already reserved a table.
Example conversation
志强 and 佳怡 are deciding where to eat dinner.
- 志强 Zhiqiang佳怡，我们要不要去那家餐厅？Jiāyí, wǒmen yào bù yào qù nà jiā cāntīng?Jiayi, do you want to go to that restaurant?
- 佳怡 Jiayi好啊，但我需要先订位。Hǎo a, dàn wǒ xūyào xiān dìngwèi.Sure, but I need to reserve a table first.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我来帮你订位吧。Wǒ lái bāng nǐ dìngwèi ba.Let me help you reserve a table.
- 佳怡 Jiayi谢谢你，志强。Xièxiè nǐ, Zhìqiáng.Thank you, Zhiqiang.
