有点辣，可以吗？
yǒudiǎn là, kěyǐ ma?
It's a bit spicy — is that okay · trad. 有點辣，可以嗎？
有点辣，可以吗？ (Yǒu diǎn là kěyǐ ma) is a polite way to ask if someone is okay with a dish being a little spicy. It's commonly used in restaurants to confirm a diner's spice tolerance before serving.
What does 有点辣，可以吗？ (yǒudiǎn là, kěyǐ ma?) mean?
有点辣，可以吗？ (yǒudiǎn là, kěyǐ ma?) means “it's a bit spicy — is that okay” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “a bit spicy, okay?”
When to use it
Neutral and polite. It's a common question asked by restaurant staff. A common reply if it's okay is “可以” (kěyǐ, “yes, it's okay”) or “没问题” (méi wèntí, “no problem”).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “YOH dee-en LAH kuh-YEE mah?” with a rising tone on “yǒu,” a falling tone on “lā,” and a rising tone on “kě.”
Other ways to say it
- 有点辣yǒudiǎn làa bit spicy
- 你吃辣吗？nǐ chī là ma?Do you eat spicy food?
- 能吃辣吗？néng chī là ma?Can you eat spicy food?
Examples
这道菜有点辣，可以吗？
zhè dào cài yǒudiǎn là, kěyǐ ma?
This dish is a bit spicy, is that okay?
我们点的菜有点辣，可以吗？
wǒmen diǎn de cài yǒudiǎn là, kěyǐ ma?
The dish we ordered is a bit spicy, is that okay?
如果你不能吃辣，我们可以点不辣的。
rúguǒ nǐ bù néng chī là, wǒmen kěyǐ diǎn bù là de.
If you can't eat spicy food, we can order non-spicy ones.
Pro tip: When asking about spice, “有点辣” implies a mild to moderate level of spiciness. For very spicy, you might hear “很辣” (hěn là) or “非常辣” (fēicháng là).
Related phrases
这个卖完了 · That one is sold out这是本店的招牌菜 · This is our signature dish小心烫 · Careful, it's hot
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