Chinese Vocabulary for: Ordering bubble tea
Bubble tea (珍珠奶茶) is everywhere in the Mandarin-speaking world, and ordering it like a local will help you practice numbers, preferences, and quick exchanges. This topic covers the vocabulary you need to customize sugar level, ice, toppings, and size at shops like 50嵐, Coco, or local chains. The phrases here are aimed at A2–B2 learners and match real-life ordering flow: size, sweetness, ice, and add-ons. Learning these in context with example sentences and a short review loop will make your next order smooth and natural.
When you'd use this
Use this when ordering at bubble tea shops, specifying sugar level (无糖, 少糖), ice level (去冰, 少冰), and toppings (珍珠, 椰果). Also useful for asking about popular drinks or sizes.
Key vocabulary
- 珍珠奶茶zhēn zhū nǎi chá• bubble tea
- 甜度tián dù• sweetness level
- 无糖wú táng• no sugar
- 少糖shǎo táng• less sugar
- 正常甜zhèng cháng tián• normal sweetness
- 去冰qù bīng• no ice
- 少冰shǎo bīng• less ice
- 珍珠zhēn zhū• tapioca pearls
- 椰果yē guǒ• coconut jelly
- 大杯dà bēi• large size
- 中杯zhōng bēi• medium size
- 加料jiā liào• add toppings
- 去冰少糖qù bīng shǎo táng• no ice, less sugar
- 一杯yī bēi• one cup
Example sentences
我要一杯珍珠奶茶。
Wǒ yào yī bēi zhēn zhū nǎi chá.
I want one bubble tea.
去冰少糖。
Qù bīng shǎo táng.
No ice, less sugar.
甜度可以调吗？
Tián dù kě yǐ tiáo ma?
Can you adjust the sweetness?
大杯多少钱？
Dà bēi duō shǎo qián?
How much is a large?
加珍珠要加钱吗？
Jiā zhēn zhū yào jiā qián ma?
Does adding pearls cost extra?
我要正常甜、少冰。
Wǒ yào zhèng cháng tián, shǎo bīng.
I want normal sweetness, less ice.
Common mistakes / natural phrasing
'少糖' is 'less sugar,' not 'no sugar' (无糖). Saying '不要冰' is fine, but '去冰' is the standard phrase in most shops. Order size before toppings: e.g. '大杯珍珠奶茶，少糖去冰'.
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