请问，我可以续杯吗？

The phrase '请问 (qǐngwèn)' is a polite way to start a question, literally meaning 'please ask'. '可以 (kěyǐ)' means 'can' or 'may'. '续杯 (xùbēi)' means 'to refill a cup' or 'to have a second serving of a drink'. '吗 (ma)' is a question particle. The combination forms a polite request for a refill, common in service settings in China. The concept of 'refill' or '续杯' as a service offering gained prominence with the Westernization of dining culture, especially in cafes and fast-food establishments, becoming widely understood and used in the last few decades. Before this, while sharing drinks was common, the specific service of 'refilling' a drink for free or at a reduced cost was less institutionalized in traditional Chinese dining, which often focused on tea served in pots that could be refilled with hot water.