Which dialect of Mandarin should you learn? In the dialogue, Ah-Ming (阿明) and Xiao-Li (小李) order some food! How do you call the waiter in Mandarin? (Hint: it doesn't involve eye contact.)

Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only)

• A-Ming (M): 不好意思，可以點餐了！
• Waiter (F): 好，你要點什麼呢？
• M: 一個宮保雞丁，一份鍋貼，還有一個炒青菜
• F: 要白飯嗎？
• M: 要！誒，小李，你要吃飯嗎？
• Xiao Li (L): 好啊
• M: 那我們要兩碗白飯
• F: 這樣就好了嗎？
• M: 對，這樣就好
• F: 好的，請稍等
• M: 他們的鍋貼超好吃！對了，你要不要喝啤酒？
• L：我不能喝酒，等一下還要開車啊
• M：對齁，那... 我們喝茶吧！
• L：好
• M：好，我去拿

Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and translation)

• A-Ming (M): 不好意思，可以點餐了！
  • Bù hǎoyìsi, kěyǐ diǎn cānle!
  • Excuse me, we can order!  
• Waiter (F): 好，你要點什麼呢？
  • Hǎo, nǐ yàodiǎn shénme ne?
  • Ok, what do you want to order? 
• M: 一個宮保雞丁，一份鍋貼，還有一個炒青菜
  • Yīgè gōngbǎo jī dīng, yī fèn guōtiē, hái yǒu yīgè chǎo qīngcài
  • One 宮保雞丁, one portion of potstickers, and also one stir-fried green vegetable. 
• F: 要白飯嗎？
  • Yào báifàn ma?
  • Do you want white rice? 
• M: 要！誒，小李，你要吃飯嗎？
  • Yào! Éi, xiǎo lǐ, nǐ yào chīfàn ma?
  • Want! Oh, Xiao Li, do you want to eat rice? 
• Xiao Li (L): 好啊
  • Hǎo a
  • Ok!
• M: 那我們要兩碗白飯
  • Nà wǒmen yào liǎng wǎn báifàn
  • Then we want two bowls of white rice.
• F: 這樣就好了嗎？
  • Zhèyàng jiù hǎole ma?
  • Is that it? 
• M: 對，這樣就好
  • Duì, zhèyàng jiù hǎo
  • Yep, that's it. 
• F: 好的，請稍等
  • Hǎo de, qǐng shāo děng
  • Ok, please wait a moment. 
• M: 他們的鍋貼超好吃！對了，你要不要喝啤酒？
  • Tāmen de guōtiē chāo hào chī! Duìle, nǐ yào bùyào hē píjiǔ?
  • Their potstickers are super delicious! Oh right, do you want to drink beer? 
• L：我不能喝酒，等一下還要開車啊
  • Wǒ bùnéng hējiǔ, děng yīxià hái yào kāichē a
  • I can't drink alcohol, I have to drive in a second!
• M：對齁，那... 我們喝茶吧！
  • Duì hōu, nà... Wǒmen hē chá bā!
  • Oh right, then... let's drink tea! 
• L：好
  • Hǎo
  • OK. 
• M：好，我去拿
  • Hǎo, wǒ qù ná
  • Ok, I'll go get it. 

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