Asking for Recommendations in Mandarin Chinese: 有什么推荐？
Learn to ask 'What do you recommend?' and 'What's good here?' in Mandarin. This lesson focuses on seeking advice, not ordering, with key phrases, a dialogue, and practice.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you're at a restaurant or shop in a Chinese-speaking environment, you might not know what to choose. Instead of just ordering, you can ask for a recommendation. This lesson teaches you how to say 'What do you recommend?' and 'What's good here?' in Mandarin Chinese. You'll learn the key phrases, how to use them politely, and how they differ from simply ordering. By the end, you'll be able to seek advice confidently and understand the response. We'll use simplified Chinese characters and pinyin with tone marks to help you pronounce correctly. Remember, Mandarin has four main tones, so pay attention to the tone marks. Let's start!
By the end, you can…
- ask 'What do you recommend?' in Mandarin.
- ask 'What's good here?' in Mandarin.
- understand and respond to a recommendation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
有什么推荐？
What do you recommend?
yǒu shénme tuījiàn?
General way to ask for recommendations. Use in restaurants, shops, etc.
什么好吃？
What's good to eat? / What's delicious?
shénme hǎo chī?
Specifically for food. Literally 'what is good to eat?'
你推荐什么？
What do you recommend?
nǐ tuījiàn shénme?
Directly asking the person you're speaking to.
这里什么最有名？
What is the most famous here?
zhèlǐ shénme zuì yǒumíng?
Asking for the signature dish or popular item.
有什么特色菜？
What specialty dishes do you have?
yǒu shénme tèsè cài?
Asking for specialty dishes, often in a restaurant.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern '有什么 + [noun]？' (yǒu shénme + [noun]?) means 'What [noun] are there?' or 'What [noun] do you have?'. For example, '有什么推荐？' (yǒu shénme tuījiàn?) means 'What recommendations are there?' i.e., 'What do you recommend?'. Similarly, '有什么特色菜？' (yǒu shénme tèsè cài?) means 'What specialty dishes are there?'. You can replace '推荐' with other nouns like '建议' (jiànyì, suggestions) or '选择' (xuǎnzé, choices). This pattern is very common for asking for options.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you want advice, not when you're ready to order. For example, if you're unsure what to eat, ask '有什么推荐？' (yǒu shénme tuījiàn?). If you want to know the best dish, ask '什么好吃？' (shénme hǎo chī?). In a shop, you can ask '有什么推荐的？' (yǒu shénme tuījiàn de?) adding '的' to make it more colloquial. Avoid using these after you've decided; then you would order directly, like '我要这个' (wǒ yào zhège, I want this).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，有什么推荐？
Hello, what do you recommend?nǐ hǎo, yǒu shénme tuījiàn?我们的牛肉面很好吃。
Our beef noodles are very delicious.wǒmen de niúròu miàn hěn hǎo chī.还有别的吗？
Anything else?hái yǒu bié de ma?饺子也不错，很多人点。
Dumplings are also good; many people order them.jiǎozi yě bùcuò, hěn duō rén diǎn.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese-speaking cultures, asking for recommendations is common and appreciated. It shows you value the server's opinion. However, be aware that the response may be enthusiastic; it's polite to accept or politely decline. Tipping is not customary in mainland China, so no need to tip for recommendations.
One thing to watch for
Using '什么推荐？' (shén me tuī jiàn?) without '有' (yǒu).
Try this instead: Always include '有' (yǒu) to form '有什么推荐？' (yǒu shén me tuī jiàn?). Without '有', the phrase sounds incomplete. For example, say '有什么推荐？' not '什么推荐？'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What's good to eat?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
什么好吃？
This literally means 'what is good to eat?' and is used to ask what food is good. You could also say '有什么好吃的？' (yǒu shénme hǎo chī de?) with a similar meaning.
2Translate: 'What specialty dishes do you have?'
Show a sample answer
有什么特色菜？
This uses the pattern '有什么 + noun'. '特色菜' means specialty dishes. Alternatively, you could ask '你们的特色菜是什么？' (nǐmen de tèsè cài shì shénme?).
3You want a recommendation for a drink. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
有什么推荐的饮料？
This means 'What drinks do you recommend?' You can also say '有什么好喝的？' (yǒu shénme hǎo hē de?) meaning 'What's good to drink?'.
To ask for recommendations in Mandarin, use '有什么推荐？' (yǒu shénme tuījiàn?) or '什么好吃？' (shénme hǎo chī?). Remember to include '有' and use the pattern '有什么 + noun'. Practice these phrases to seek advice politely.
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