Meaning and Usage
The word 服务员 (fúwùyuán) refers to staff who provide service to customers, especially in restaurants, cafes, or shops. It commonly means "waiter" or "waitress," but can also apply to any service employee attending to guests.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 服务员 used when calling for attention in a restaurant, e.g., “服务员，请给我一杯水” (Waiter, please bring me a glass of water). It also appears when describing the quality of service or the role of staff.
Collocations and Patterns
- 服务员 + 动词 (e.g., 推荐, 帮忙): Describes actions the waiter performs, like recommending dishes or helping customers.
- 这家餐厅的服务员: Used to talk about the staff of a particular place.
Register and Tone
This term is neutral and polite, suitable for everyday conversation. It is more formal than casual slang but not overly formal.
Common Confusion
Don't confuse 服务员 with 服务 (service) alone or with other staff titles like 店员 (shop assistant). 服务员 specifically implies a service role attending to customers, often in hospitality.