Chinese word

服务员

Pronunciation

Pinyinfú wù yuán

Meaning

  • nounwaiter

Example

请叫一下服务员。qǐng jiào yí xià fú wù yuán

Please call the waiter.

Illustration for 服务员 (waiter)

More examples

我对服务员的服务很满意。wǒ duì fú wù yuán de fú wù hěn mǎn yì

I am very satisfied with the waiter's service.

Core concept

A staff member who handles customers' practical needs in a place of business.

Common phrases

  • 叫服务员jiào fú wù yuán

    call the waiter

  • 向服务员点菜xiàng fú wù yuán diǎn cài

    order from the waiter

  • 对服务员微笑duì fú wù yuán wēi xiào

    smile at the waiter

  • 向服务员要菜单xiàng fú wù yuán yào cài dān

    ask the waiter for the menu

Similar words

服务生fú wù shēng: A restaurant server who takes orders and brings food and drinks to customers.
店员diàn yuán: A shop worker who serves customers by managing goods and taking payment.
售货员shòu huò yuán: A shop worker whose job is to sell products and help customers choose them.

Definition in Chinese

指在餐馆、商店、酒店等场所为顾客提供接待、点单、上菜、清理、结账等具体服务工作的工作人员。zhǐ zài cān guǎn shāng diàn jiǔ diàn děng cháng suǒ wèi gù kè tí gōng jiē dài diǎn dān shàng cài qīng lǐ jié zhàng děng jù tǐ fú wù gōng zuò de gōng zuò rén yuán

Word origin

服务员 (fúwùyuán, "service worker") combines 服 (fú, "serve") + 务 (wù, "duty") with 员 (yuán, "member") to name a person whose duty is serving others.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English job titles that may mark gender, this noun works for staff of any gender and also covers customer-service workers in shops and hotels.

Other meanings

  • waitressnoun
  • attendantnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 服务费fú wù fèiservice chargenoun
  • 服务业fú wù yèservice industrynoun
  • 服务质量fú wù zhì liàngservice qualitynoun

Word lists with this word