Chinese word

订位

Pronunciation

Pinyindìng wèi

Meaning

verbbook

Example

我想为今晚订位，还有两个人。wǒ xiǎng wèi jīn wǎn dìng wèi hái yǒu liǎng gè rén

I'd like to book a table for tonight, and there are two more people.

More examples

周末人多，最好提前订位。zhōu mò rén duō zuì hǎo tí qián dìng wèi

Weekends are crowded, so it's best to book in advance.

Core concept

An advance arrangement that keeps a chosen seat or place available for a later arrival.

Common phrases

打电话订位dǎ diàn huà dìng wèi
book by phone
在线订位zài xiàn dìng wèi
book online
提前订位tí qián dìng wèi
book in advance

Similar words

预订yù dìng: Book a service, seat, room, ticket, or other place ahead of time.
订座dìng zuò: Book a restaurant seat ahead of time so it is ready when arriving.
预约yù yuē: Set a time or place ahead of time for an appointment, service, meeting, or medical visit.
订桌dìng zhuō: Book a restaurant table ahead of time for a later arrival.

Definition in Chinese

事先向店家或服务方请求保留某个座位或位置，以便到达时使用。shì xiān xiàng diàn jiā huò fú wù fāng qǐng qiú bǎo liú mǒu gè zuò wèi huò wèi zhì yǐ biàn dào dá shí shǐ yòng

Word origin

订 (dìng, "arrange in advance") + 位 (wèi, "place or seat") literally links a prior arrangement with a specific place, which produces the sense of securing a place at a restaurant.

Usage tips

The word fits restaurant plans especially well, while hotels, tickets, and other travel arrangements usually use more specific expressions.

Other meanings

reserve a seatverb