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Mandarin phrase guide

How to say water please in Chinese

请给我一杯水 means 'please give me a glass of water' and is a clear request in a restaurant, hotel, or home.

Chinese

请给我一杯水

請給我一杯水

Pinyin

qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ

Sounds like

ching gay waw ee bay shway

Read it piece by piece

请

qǐng

ching

English IPA /tʃɪŋ/

给

gěi

gay

English IPA /gay/

我

wǒ

waw

English IPA /wɔː/

一

yì

ee

English IPA /iː/

杯

bēi

bay

English IPA /bay/

水

shuǐ

shway

English IPA /shway/

Pronunciation notes
  • q sounds close to "ch", with the tongue forward.
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When to use 请给我一杯水

Polite
  • 杯 is the measure word for a cup or glass; use 瓶 for a bottle.
  • At a restaurant, add 谢谢 after the request for a natural polite exchange.

Other ways to say it

麻烦给我一杯水

麻煩給我一杯水

má fan gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ

Could I trouble you for a glass of water?

Polite and conversational

我要一瓶水

wǒ yào yì píng shuǐ

I would like a bottle of water

Direct and neutral

Example conversations

Please give me a glass of water.

请给我一杯水。

請給我一杯水。

qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ

Could I have a bottle of water, please?

麻烦给我一瓶水。

麻煩給我一瓶水。

má fan gěi wǒ yì píng shuǐ

Common mistakes

  • Use a measure word between the number and 水: 一杯水 for a glass or 一瓶水 for a bottle.

Related Chinese phrases

How to say please 请 · qǐng How to say I would like this 我要这个 · wǒ yào zhè ge How to say thank you 谢谢 · xiè xie