去國外餐廳用餐時，你知道只要說 “Tap Water” 就能免費拿到水嗎？很多台灣人一到歐美，就習慣說 “Water, please”，結果來的卻是要錢的瓶裝水。其實，在國外會餐廳點水的英文差很多，說錯可不是小事，因為一瓶礦泉水常常比一杯咖啡還貴！今天就讓我們一起搞懂 Tap Water English，讓你出國用餐既省錢又自在。
🎧Apple Podcast | Spotify
💬 Dialogue
場景：台灣旅客 Anna 和朋友 Ben 在倫敦的一間餐廳用餐，想要點水。
English Dialogue
Waiter: Hi, welcome! What would you like to drink?
Anna: Could we have some tap water, please?
Waiter: Sure! Would you like still or sparkling water instead?
Ben: Oh, what’s the difference?
Waiter: Tap water is free. Still water is bottled water without gas, and sparkling water has bubbles.
Anna: Just tap water, thank you.
Ben: Yeah, we’ll stick with tap water.
Waiter: Great! I’ll bring it right away.
Anna: (to Ben) Good thing you didn’t say just “water,” or we’d have to pay!
Ben: Wow, really? In Taiwan, water is always free at restaurants.
Anna: Exactly! But in Europe, it’s different.
Ben: Thanks for saving my wallet, Anna.
中文
服務生：嗨，歡迎光臨！想喝點什麼呢？
Anna：我們可以要一些自來水 (tap water) 嗎？
服務生：好的！要不要改成瓶裝水呢？有無氣泡的。
Ben：喔，那有什麼差別？
服務生：Tap water 是免費的。Still water 是瓶裝水沒氣泡，sparkling water 就是有氣泡的水。
Anna：那我們就要 tap water，謝謝。
Ben：對，我們就喝自來水。
服務生：好的，馬上來。
Anna：（對 Ben 說）還好你沒直接說 “water”，不然我們就得付錢了！
Ben：真的假的？在台灣餐廳水都是免費的耶。
Anna：沒錯！但在歐洲就不一樣囉。
Ben：Anna，謝啦，救了我的錢包。
📚 Vocabulary Boost
| 單字 | 詞性 | 中文意思 | 英文例句 | 中文翻譯 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tap water | n. | 自來水 | Can we have some tap water, please? | 我們可以要一些自來水嗎？ |
| still water | n. | 瓶裝水（無氣泡） | I prefer still water to sparkling water. | 我比較喜歡無氣泡水。 |
| sparkling water | n. | 氣泡水 | Would you like sparkling water with your meal? | 你要不要搭配餐點喝氣泡水？ |
| bottled water | n. | 瓶裝水 | A bottle of bottled water costs 3 euros here. | 這裡一瓶礦泉水要3歐元。 |
| wallet | n. | 錢包 | Be careful, your wallet might get stolen. | 小心，你的錢包可能被偷。 |
| waiter | n. | 男服務生 | The waiter took our order. | 服務生幫我們點餐。 |
| instead | adv. | 取而代之 | Let’s drink tea instead of coffee. | 我們喝茶吧，不要咖啡。 |
🔍 Sentence Patterns
| 句型結構 | 中文意思 | 英文例句 | 中文翻譯 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Could we have…? | 我們可以要…嗎？ | Could we have some tap water, please? | 我們可以要一些自來水嗎？ |
| Would you like…? | 你想要…嗎？ | Would you like sparkling water? | 你想要氣泡水嗎？ |
| We’ll stick with… | 我們還是要… | We’ll stick with tap water. | 我們還是要自來水。 |
| Good thing you didn’t… | 還好你沒有… | Good thing you didn’t order sparkling water. | 還好你沒有點氣泡水。 |
| In Taiwan, … but in Europe… | 在台灣…但在歐洲… | In Taiwan, water is free, but in Europe it’s different. | 在台灣水是免費的，但在歐洲就不一樣了。 |
📖逐字稿
J: Welcome to MJ English. Today we’re jumping into a really practical English conversation, one that could actually save you a bit of money, maybe some hassle when you’re traveling.
J：歡迎來到 MJ English。今天要聊一段非常實用的英語對話，出國旅遊時真的可能幫你省下一點錢，也少一點麻煩。
M: Yeah, it’s something surprisingly common.
M：沒錯，這種情況比想像中還常見。
J: We’re talking about ordering water in a restaurant abroad. Sounds dead simple, right?
J：我們要談的是在國外餐廳點水。聽起來超簡單對吧？
M: You’d think so. But,it’s often not quite that straightforward. It can catch people out.
M：你會這麼以為，但其實常常沒那麼直覺，很多人都會中招。
J: So, imagine you’re in a nice little restaurant somewhere in Europe. You sit down, you’re ready to order drinks. Let’s listen to a short conversation.
J：想像你在歐洲某間小而美的餐廳，坐下來準備點飲料。讓我們來聽一小段情境對話。
台灣旅客 Anna 和朋友 Ben 在倫敦的一間餐廳用餐，想要點水。
English Dialogue
Waiter: Hi, welcome! What would you like to drink?
Anna: Could we have some tap water, please?
Waiter: Sure! Would you like still or sparkling water instead?
Ben: Oh, what’s the difference?
Waiter: Tap water is free. Still water is bottled water without gas, and sparkling water has bubbles.
Anna: Just tap water, thank you.
Ben: Yeah, we’ll stick with tap water.
Waiter: Great! I’ll bring it right away.
Anna: (to Ben) Good thing you didn’t say just “water,” or we’d have to pay!
Ben: Wow, really? In Taiwan, water is always free at restaurants.
Anna: Exactly! But in Europe, it’s different.
Ben: Thanks for saving my wallet, Anna.
中文
服務生：嗨，歡迎光臨！想喝點什麼呢？
Anna：我們可以要一些自來水 (tap water) 嗎？
服務生：好的！要不要改成瓶裝水呢？有無氣泡的。
Ben：喔，那有什麼差別？
服務生：Tap water 是免費的。Still water 是瓶裝水沒氣泡，sparkling water 就是有氣泡的水。
Anna：那我們就要 tap water，謝謝。
Ben：對，我們就喝自來水。
服務生：好的，馬上來。
Anna：（對 Ben 說）還好你沒直接說 “water”，不然我們就得付錢了！
Ben：真的假的？在台灣餐廳水都是免費的耶。
Anna：沒錯！但在歐洲就不一樣囉。
Ben：Anna，謝啦，救了我的錢包。
J: Okay, so let’s unpack that. Short conversation, but a pretty important, wouldn’t you say? What’s the big takeaway here?
J：好，我們來拆解一下。雖然對話很短，但挺重要的對吧？這裡最大的重點是什麼？
M: Well, the key thing really is that word, “tap.” Anna used “tap water.”
M：關鍵其實就是「tap」這個字。Anna 說的是「tap water（自來水）」。
M: If you just ask for “water” in many places, especially, yeah, in Europe, you’ll likely get bottled water and you’ll pay for it.
M：如果你只說「water」在很多地方——特別是在歐洲——很可能會上瓶裝水，而且要付費。
J: And sometimes quite a lot. I mean, I’ve definitely been caught out where the bottled water costs like more than a coffee or even a glass of wine.
J：而且有時候還不便宜。我就遇過瓶裝水比一杯咖啡，甚至一杯紅酒還貴的情況。
M: It happens all the time. So, asking specifically for tap water, that’s usually the free option, assuming it’s safe and available, which it usually is nowadays in most tourist areas.
M：很常見。所以要明確說「tap water」，通常就是免費的選項（前提是當地安全且提供，現在多數觀光區基本上都可以）。
J: Okay, so that’s the main thing. Tap water for free, just “water” might mean bottled and charged.
J：所以主軸就是：說「tap water」通常免費，只說「water」可能就會變成要付費的瓶裝水。
M: And the dialogue also mentions “still” and “sparkling.” Those are the two main types of bottled water you’ll encounter.
M：對話裡也提到「still」跟「sparkling」，這是你最常遇到的兩種瓶裝水。
J: Right. “Still” is just regular bottled water, no bubbles.
J：對，「still」就是一般的不含氣瓶裝水，沒有氣泡。
M: No gas.
M：對，沒有氣。
J: And “sparkling” obviously has the carbonation, the bubbles.
J：而「sparkling」就是有二氧化碳、會有氣泡的那種。
M: Sometimes called “fizzy water” or “water with gas.”
M：有時也會叫「fizzy water」或「water with gas（有氣的水）」。
J: And Ben’s reaction in the dialogue about Taiwan, that highlights a really interesting cultural point, doesn’t it?
J：Ben 在對話裡提到台灣，那也凸顯了一個很有意思的文化差異，對吧？
M: It absolutely does. Because in some places, like Taiwan, maybe parts of the US, too, getting free table water is just standard. It’s expected.
M：完全是。因為像台灣，還有美國部分地區，提供免費開水是基本、大家理所當然會期待的。
J: You don’t even think about it.
J：根本不需要特別去想。
M: But in many European countries and other places, too, the culture around water in restaurants is just different. It’s more common to order and pay for bottled water. Asking for tap water is fine, but you often need to be specific.
M：但在很多歐洲國家（以及其他地區），餐廳用水的文化不一樣，比較常見的是點瓶裝水並付費。你要自來水也可以，但通常要講清楚。
J: So, knowing that phrase, “tap water,” isn’t just about saving money, though that’s a big plus. It’s also about sort of navigating the local custom smoothly.
J：所以會說「tap water」不只是為了省錢（當然這一點很棒），也是為了更順利地遵循當地的用餐習慣。
M: It avoids that awkward moment when the bill comes or when a bottle arrives that you aren’t expecting. It shows you, you know, understand how things work there.
M：這樣就不會出現結帳時的尷尬，或突然上來一瓶你沒預期的水。也表示你懂當地的規則。
J: Yeah, makes sense. And there were some useful phrases in that dialogue we can pull out for the listeners.
J：對，很有道理。而且那段對話裡有幾個實用句子可以給大家參考。
J: Like, for asking, Anna said, “Could we have some tap water, please?” Very clear, polite.
J：比方點水的時候，Anna 說的是「Could we have some tap water, please?」既清楚又有禮貌。
M: And the waiter offered options. “Would you like still or sparkling water instead?” So, you might hear that.
M：服務生則提出選項：「Would you like still or sparkling water instead?」你也很可能會聽到這種問法。
J: And confirming your choice, Ben’s line, “Yeah, we’ll stick with tap water.” Simple, direct.
J：而確認選擇時，Ben 說「Yeah, we’ll stick with tap water.」簡單、直接。
M: And for talking about those differences, like Anna did, “In Taiwan, water is always free at restaurants, but in Europe, it’s different.” That structure is useful for any cultural comparison.
M：另外像 Anna 那樣談文化差異：「In Taiwan, water is always free at restaurants, but in Europe, it’s different.」這個句型在做任何文化比較時都很好用。
J: It really shows how a tiny language detail connects to bigger things like culture and your wallet.
J：這就看出來，一個小小的用詞差異，會牽動到更大的面向——文化，還有你的荷包。
J: So, the bottom line for you listening is that phrase, “tap water,” is like a surprisingly powerful tool for your travel toolkit.
J：所以給正在收聽的你，重點就是：「tap water」這個片語，是你旅遊工具箱裡意外強大的法寶。
M: It helps you be informed, it helps you manage your budget, and just makes dining out a bit less stressful.
M：它能讓你更了解狀況、控管預算，也讓外食少一點壓力。
J: And maybe it prompts a wider thought, too.
J：也許它還能引發更廣的思考。
M: I think so. It’s a good reminder to maybe, you know, observe other little everyday things when you travel. What assumptions do you carry from home that might be different elsewhere?
M：我也這麼覺得。提醒我們旅途中多留意其他日常小事：你把哪些在家裡理所當然的事情，帶到別的地方其實可能不適用？
J: Like how you greet people or tipping or, ordering water.
J：像是打招呼的方式、小費文化，或者點水。
J: Okay, that’s our practical tip for today on MJ English. Hope that helps you feel a bit more confident next time you’re ordering abroad.
J：好了，這就是今天 MJ English 的實用小撇步。希望下次你在國外點飲料時更有自信。
✅ Quick Check 小測驗
📌 延伸閱讀建議
- 【Travel English】餐廳點餐英文必備：Don’t Get Lost in the Menu
- 【英文旅行必學】機場安檢英文全攻略，讓你通關不卡關
- 【Dining English】出國餐廳結帳英文：Bill, Check, Receipt 怎麼用？
