Mandarin Chinese for Asking About Today's Special and Understanding the Reply
Learn to ask 今天有什么特价? and understand daily specials in Mandarin, including price, dish names, and simple descriptions.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you eat out in a Chinese-speaking place, the general menu is not always the best deal. Daily specials, called 特价 (tèjià) or 今日特餐 (jīnrì tècān), change often and are usually cheaper. This lesson teaches you one clear question: 今天有什么特价? (What is today's special?) You will also learn to understand the answer, ask the price, and confirm what is included. The focus is on spoken Mandarin for real situations, not on reading a long menu. You will practice simplified Chinese characters, pinyin with tone marks, and polite, natural phrasing.
By the end, you can…
- ask what today's special is in Mandarin.
- understand a short reply about a daily offer, including dish name and price.
- ask a follow-up question to confirm what is included.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
今天有什么特价？
What is today's special?
jīn tiān yǒu shén me tè jià?
A direct, common question in casual restaurants and food stalls. Use it when you want the daily deal, not the full menu.
今日特餐是什么？
What is today's special meal?
jīn rì tè cān shì shén me?
Slightly more formal than 今天有什么特价. 今日 is common in writing and on signs; 特餐 means a set special meal.
多少钱？
How much is it?
duō shao qián?
Use after you hear the special. 多少 is often pronounced duō shao, with a neutral second syllable.
里面有什么？
What is in it? / What does it include?
lǐ miàn yǒu shén me?
Ask this to learn the main ingredients or what comes with a set meal.
好，我要一个。
Okay, I'll have one.
hǎo, wǒ yào yí ge.
A simple way to order one item. 一个 is often pronounced yí ge because of tone change before a fourth tone.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 今天有什么…？ means 'What is there today…?' You can use it for many daily offers: 今天有什么特价？ (What is today's special?), 今天有什么汤？ (What soup is there today?), 今天有什么菜？ (What dishes are there today?). The answer often starts with 有 (yǒu, there is/are) or 是 (shì, is). For example: 今天有特价，是牛肉面。 (Today there is a special; it is beef noodles.) Listen for the dish name and the price. If you do not understand, ask 请再说一遍 (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, please say it again).
When to use it
Use 今天有什么特价？ in small restaurants, cafeterias, and food courts where daily offers are common. It is less suitable for very formal restaurants, where you might ask 请问今日特餐是什么？ (qǐng wèn jīn rì tè cān shì shén me?, May I ask what today's special meal is?). After the server answers, repeat the key item to confirm: 牛肉面，对吗？ (niú ròu miàn, duì ma?, Beef noodles, right?). This keeps the conversation clear and polite. If the special is sold out, you may hear 卖完了 (mài wán le, sold out).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，今天有什么特价？
Hello, what is today's special?nǐ hǎo, jīn tiān yǒu shén me tè jià?今天有特价，是鸡肉饭，三十块。
Today there is a special; it is chicken rice, thirty yuan.jīn tiān yǒu tè jià, shì jī ròu fàn, sān shí kuài.里面有什么？
What is in it?lǐ miàn yǒu shén me?有鸡肉、米饭和青菜。
It has chicken, rice, and green vegetables.yǒu jī ròu, mǐ fàn hé qīng cài.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, 块 (kuài) is very common in speech for 'yuan', while 元 (yuán) is more formal or written. In Taiwan, people often say 塊 too, but the pronunciation and some menu terms differ. Prices may be written as 30元 or 三十块. Tipping is not standard in most everyday Chinese restaurants, so the price you hear is usually the full price.
One thing to watch for
Using 今天有什么特价？ to ask for a general recommendation, such as 'What do you recommend?'
Try this instead: 今天有什么特价？ asks specifically about today's special offer. For a general recommendation, say 你推荐什么？ (nǐ tuī jiàn shén me?, What do you recommend?) or 有什么好吃的？ (yǒu shén me hǎo chī de?, What is good to eat?). Use the special question only when you want the daily deal.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What is today's special?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
今天有什么特价？
This uses 今天 (today) + 有什么 (what is there) + 特价 (special price). 今日特餐是什么？ is also correct but more formal.
2The server says 三十块. What does that mean?
Show a sample answer
Thirty yuan.
三十 means thirty, and 块 is a common spoken word for yuan. In more formal contexts, you may hear 三十元.
3You want to know what comes with the special. What can you ask?
Show a sample answer
里面有什么？
This means 'What is in it?' You can also ask 有什么菜？ (What dishes are there?) or 有汤吗？ (Does it come with soup?).
Ask 今天有什么特价？ to find the daily deal, then listen for the dish name and price. Confirm with 里面有什么？ and 多少钱？ before ordering.
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