服务员！
fúwùyuán!
Waiter or waitress · trad. 服務員！
服务员！ (fúwùyuán) is how you call a waiter or waitress in a restaurant or other service setting. It's the standard and expected way to get attention when you need service, and it's normal to call it out loud across the room.
What does 服务员！ (fúwùyuán!) mean?
服务员！ (fúwùyuán!) means “waiter or waitress” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “service person!”
When to use it
Neutral and direct. It's the standard way to get a server's attention in a restaurant or shop. It is not considered impolite to call out “服务员！” loudly. If you are closer to the staff, you could also say “你好” (nǐ hǎo) or “麻烦你” (máfan nǐ, “excuse me”).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “foo-WOO-ywen.” The first and third syllables have rising tones, and the middle syllable has a falling tone.
Other ways to say it
- 不好意思bù hǎo yìsihello (to get attention)
- 麻烦你máfan nǐexcuse me (to get attention)
Examples
服务员！买单！
fúwùyuán! mǎidān!
Waiter! Check, please!
服务员！请问这个菜是什么？
fúwùyuán! qǐngwèn zhège cài shì shénme?
Waiter! Excuse me, what is this dish?
麻烦你，可以帮我加水吗？
máfan nǐ, kěyǐ bāng wǒ jiā shuǐ ma?
Excuse me, could you help me add water?
Pro tip: Don't be shy about calling out “服务员！” loudly in a restaurant; it's the normal and expected way to get a server's attention.
Related phrases
买单 · The bill, please菜单给我看一下 · The menu, please有英文菜单吗？ · Do you have an english menu
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