How to Say 'Could I have two more towels?' in Mandarin Chinese
Learn beginner Mandarin for asking housekeeping for extra towels, understanding the reply, and requesting other room amenities politely. Includes pinyin, tones, and a hotel dialogue.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you stay in a Chinese-speaking hotel, the fastest way to get extra towels is to call housekeeping and use one clear pattern: 可以给我...吗？ (Kěyǐ gěi wǒ... ma?), meaning 'Could you give me...?' In this lesson you will learn to ask for two more towels, say 'two more' correctly with 再 (zài), understand whether towels will be delivered, and ask for other amenities such as slippers or a toothbrush. Mandarin has no plural ending on 毛巾 (máojīn, towel), so quantity comes from numbers and measure words. You will also learn the polite phone opening and how to confirm delivery time.
By the end, you can…
- ask housekeeping for two more towels using 可以给我...吗？
- understand a simple reply about towel delivery, such as 马上送到 or 十分钟以后送到
- request other common room amenities, including slippers, a toothbrush, and drinking water
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
你好，客房服务。
Hello, housekeeping.
Nǐ hǎo, kèfáng fúwù.
A polite phone opening when you call the housekeeping desk. 客房服务 literally means 'guest room service'.
可以给我两条毛巾吗？
Could I have two towels?
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ liǎng tiáo máojīn ma?
The core request pattern. 条 (tiáo) is the measure word for towels; 两 (liǎng) means 'two' before a measure word.
可以再给我两条毛巾吗？
Could I have two more towels?
Kěyǐ zài gěi wǒ liǎng tiáo máojīn ma?
再 (zài) means 'again' or 'more' here. Put it before 给 (gěi) to ask for an additional amount.
请送到我的房间。
Please deliver them to my room.
Qǐng sòng dào wǒ de fángjiān.
Use this after the request. 送到 (sòng dào) means 'deliver to'. You can add your room number: 请送到 1208 房间。
什么时候送到？
When will they be delivered?
Shénme shíhou sòng dào?
A useful follow-up question. 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) means 'when'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The main pattern is 可以给我 + number + measure word + noun + 吗？ For example, 可以给我两条毛巾吗？ (Could I have two towels?) and 可以给我一双拖鞋吗？ (Could I have a pair of slippers?). To ask for more, add 再 before 给: 可以再给我两条毛巾吗？ Mandarin nouns do not change for plural, so 毛巾 can mean 'towel' or 'towels'. Quantity is shown by the number and measure word, such as 两条 (two towels), 三条 (three towels), or 一条 (one towel).
When to use it
Use this pattern when you call housekeeping from your room or speak to staff at the front desk. It is polite and clear in most hotels. If you want to be a little softer, start with 你好 (hello) or 不好意思 (excuse me). For example: 不好意思，可以再给我两条毛巾吗？ (Excuse me, could I have two more towels?) If you need something else, replace the noun: 可以给我一瓶水吗？ (Could I have a bottle of water?) or 可以给我一个牙刷吗？ (Could I have a toothbrush?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，客房服务。
Hello, housekeeping.Nǐ hǎo, kèfáng fúwù.你好，可以再给我两条毛巾吗？
Hello, could I have two more towels?Nǐ hǎo, kěyǐ zài gěi wǒ liǎng tiáo máojīn ma?好的，马上送到。请问您的房间号是多少？
Okay, we will deliver them right away. May I ask what your room number is?Hǎo de, mǎshàng sòng dào. Qǐngwèn nín de fángjiān hào shì duōshao?1208 房间。谢谢！
Room 1208. Thank you!Yī èr líng bā fángjiān. Xièxie!A little context goes a long way
In Chinese hotels, housekeeping staff usually speak politely and may use 您 (nín), the respectful form of 'you'. You can reply with 你 (nǐ) or 您 (nín); using 您 is a safe, respectful choice. A short 谢谢 (xièxie) at the end is normal and appreciated. If you call the front desk instead of housekeeping, the same request pattern still works.
One thing to watch for
Saying 可以给我二条毛巾吗？ by using 二 (èr) before the measure word 条.
Try this instead: Use 两 (liǎng), not 二 (èr), before a measure word: 可以给我两条毛巾吗？ (Could I have two towels?) Use 二 mainly for numbers in counting, phone numbers, or dates, such as 十二 (twelve) or 二号 (the second day).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask housekeeping for two more towels in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
可以再给我两条毛巾吗？
This uses 可以...吗？ for a polite request, 再 for 'more', 两 for 'two', and 条 as the measure word for towels. You can also say 请再给我两条毛巾。 (Please give me two more towels.)
2What does 马上送到 mean?
Show a sample answer
It means 'will be delivered right away' or 'will arrive immediately'.
马上 (mǎshàng) means 'immediately' or 'right away', and 送到 (sòng dào) means 'deliver to'. Staff may also say 十分钟以后送到 (will be delivered in ten minutes).
3How would you ask for a bottle of water instead of towels?
Show a sample answer
可以给我一瓶水吗？
Replace 两条毛巾 with 一瓶水. 瓶 (píng) is the measure word for bottles, and 水 (shuǐ) means water. If you want more than one, use 两瓶水 (two bottles of water).
Call housekeeping with 你好，客房服务, then use 可以再给我 + number + measure word + noun + 吗？ to ask for extra towels or other amenities. Remember 两, not 二, before a measure word.
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