How to Say “For here or to go?” in Chinese
Food and dining · HSK 2
"For here or to go?" in Chinese is 在这里吃还是带走？ (Zài zhèlǐ chī háishì dài zǒu?). Chinese staff at fast food places like KFC or Dicos ask this constantly. 带走 (dài zǒu, take away) is the most natural Mainland phrasing, while 外带 (wàidài) sounds more formal and is what you'll see written on receipts.
Primary translation
在这里吃还是带走？
Zài zhèlǐ chī háishì dài zǒu?
Traditional: 在這裡吃還是帶走？
Variants by register
Formal
请问您在这里用餐还是外带？
Qǐngwèn nín zài zhèlǐ yòngcān háishì wàidài?
Casual
这儿吃还是打包？
Zhèr chī háishì dǎbāo?
When to use it
Chinese staff at fast food places like KFC or Dicos ask this constantly. 带走 (dài zǒu, take away) is the most natural Mainland phrasing, while 外带 (wàidài) sounds more formal and is what you'll see written on receipts. Taiwan uses 外带 as the default spoken form. 打包 (dǎbāo) technically means to pack up leftovers at a sit-down restaurant, but younger Mainlanders use it loosely for takeout too. Notice 还是 (háishì); always use this 'or' in questions, never 或者.
Example sentences
在这里吃，谢谢。
Zài zhèlǐ chī, xièxie.
For here, thanks.
我要带走，不用餐具。
Wǒ yào dài zǒu, bùyòng cānjù.
To go, no utensils needed.
帮我打包一下，剩下的带回家。
Bāng wǒ dǎbāo yíxià, shèngxià de dài huí jiā.
Please pack this up, I'll take the leftovers home.