Ep 4: Don't Say "Waiter"! 🛑 Dining Etiquette & Ordering Food (China vs. Taiwan)

About this episode

This episode explores the differences in dining etiquette and food ordering practices between Mainland China and Taiwan.

Have you ever tried ordering food in a Chinese restaurant and felt instantly rude? Yelling "Fúwùyuán!" (Waiter!) might get you served fast in a bustling Beijing restaurant, but if you try that volume in a cozy Taipei eatery, you'll get major side-eye. In this episode, Kevin and Yun Yun break down the critical cultural codes of dining across the strait. You will learn: Getting Attention: Why Mainland Chinese use "Beauty" (Měinǚ) for efficiency, while Taiwanese rely on "Excuse me" (Bù hǎoyìsi). Ordering: The tech gap between "QR Code Ordering" (Mainland) vs. "Pencil & Paper" (Taiwan). Customizing: How to flawlessly ask for "No Cilantro" or "Half Sugar." Paying: The cultural art of "Fighting to Pay" vs. "Going Dutch" (AA制). Timestamps: (00:00) Intro: Yelling 'Fúwùyuán' in Taipei(01:30) Calling the Waiter: "Waiter" vs. "Beauty"(04:14) Scanning Codes vs. Drawing Orders(06:29) Customizing: No Cilantro & Half Sugar(08:18) Paying the Bill: Treating vs. AA(10:35) Practical Exercise

People in this episode

Hosts: Kevin, Yun Yun

Topics covered

• Dining Etiquette
• Ordering Food
• Cultural Differences
• China
• Taiwan

Keywords

• Waiter
• Fúwùyuán
• Měinǚ
• QR Code Ordering
• Pencil & Paper
• No Cilantro
• Half Sugar
• Fighting to Pay
• AA制

Mentioned in this episode

Places: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, Mainland

More episodes of Chinese Unmuted Podcast | 敢敢说中文 (Intermediate Mandarin & Culture)

• Ep 7: Dating in China vs. Taiwan: "Straight Ball" or "Sājiāo"? · January 23, 2026 · 12 min
• Ep 6: Why "Miss" is an Insult in China (Mainland vs. Taiwan) · January 23, 2026 · 14 min
• Ep 5: Don't Ask for "WhatsApp"! 🛑 WeChat vs. LINE Etiquette (China vs. Taiwan) · January 23, 2026 · 11 min
• Ep 3: Don't Call Him "Big Brother"! 🛑 Taxi & Didi Mistakes (China vs. Taiwan) · January 14, 2026 · 12 min
• Ep2: Stop Saying "Wǒ Jiào"! 🛑 Professional Business Chinese (China vs. Taiwan) · January 14, 2026 · 10 min
• Ep 1: How to Order Bubble Tea (Don't Say "I Want to Buy"! 🛑) · January 14, 2026 · 9 min