WORDS 01 · BEGINNER · 10–15 MIN
Order one thing clearly.
Goal: name a drink and say whether you want one cup or two. Read the words with their useful combinations, not as isolated translations.
Original cafe dialogue and illustration. No real menu, price or business is described. The target language stays Korean when you change the explanation language.
1. Six words you can use
- 물
- Noun: water.
물 주세요.
Please give me some water. - 커피
- Noun: coffee.
커피 한 잔
one cup of coffee - 차
- Noun: tea in this context.
차 두 잔
two cups of tea - 잔
- A cup or glass; also a counter for cups or glasses of a drink.
한 잔 / 두 잔 - 따뜻하다
- Adjective: warm.
따뜻한 차
warm tea - 얼음
- Noun: ice.
얼음 없이
without ice
In this cafe context, 차 means tea. The same written word can mean something different in another context. Here, learn it with the drink and cup phrases.
2. Look at the quantity
한 잔
두 잔
3. Read a small conversation
직원 안녕하세요. 무엇을 드릴까요?
손님 커피 한 잔 주세요.
직원 따뜻한 커피로 드릴까요?
손님 네, 따뜻한 커피 주세요.
직원 더 필요한 것이 있으세요?
손님 물도 주세요. 감사합니다.
Meaning and support
Staff: Hello. What would you like?
Customer: One coffee, please.
Staff: Would you like warm coffee?
Customer: Yes, warm coffee, please.
Staff: Is there anything else you need?
Customer: Some water too, please. Thank you.
Staff lines are recognition practice. Your speaking target is the short order, not mastering every polite ending today.
[음료] + 한 잔 / 두 잔 + 주세요.
Drink + quantity + a polite request. In these short orders the object particle is omitted naturally.
차 두 잔 주세요.
Two cups of tea, please.
4. Recall before checking
1. Order two cups of tea using the pattern above.
A suitable answer
차 두 잔 주세요.
Use 두 잔 for two cups.
2. Which phrase means “without ice”?
A. 얼음 없이 · B. 따뜻한 차 · C. 물 두 잔
Answer and reason
A. 얼음 is ice; 없이 means without.
3. What does the customer ask for after coffee?
Answer and reason
Water: 물도 주세요. The added 도 means also or too.
Make your own order
Choose coffee or tea and one or two cups. Say the order aloud, cover the pattern, then repeat it. Change the drink and quantity for a second order.
Original lesson and quantity illustration prepared with AI assistance. Further word reference: Basic Korean Dictionary. No recorded pronunciation is included yet. Editorial notes.