shopping
Shopping and Markets
Buying fruit by the jin, asking the price, haggling where haggling is expected, trying clothes on, asking whether you can bring something back, and paying by phone or in cash.
Essential phrases
In the order you are likely to need them. Play each one, repeat it, and read the note underneath — knowing when to say a sentence matters as much as saying it correctly.
请问，这个多少钱？請問，這個多少錢？
Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) zhège (fourth tone, falling) duōshao (first tone, high and level) qián? (second tone, rising)
Excuse me, how much is this?
When to use it
The sentence you will use more than any other. Point at the item as you say it; 这个 does the work of a noun you may not know yet.
苹果一斤多少钱？蘋果一斤多少錢？
Píngguǒ (second tone, rising) yì (fourth tone, falling) jīn (first tone, high and level) duōshao (first tone, high and level) qián? (second tone, rising)
How much are the apples per jin?
When to use it
Fruit and vegetables are priced by the 斤 (jīn), which is half a kilo — so a price that looks low is for 500 g, not a kilo. Say the item first, then 一斤多少钱.
我要两斤，谢谢。我要兩斤，謝謝。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) yào (fourth tone, falling) liǎng (third tone, dipping) jīn, (first tone, high and level) xièxie. (fourth tone, falling)
I will take two jin, thank you.
When to use it
Quantities use 两 (liǎng), not 二, before a measure word. The stallholder weighs it on the spot and tells you the total; you can also say 三斤 or 半斤.
太贵了，能不能便宜一点？太貴了，能不能便宜一點？
Tài (fourth tone, falling) guì (fourth tone, falling) le, (neutral tone) néng (second tone, rising) bu (neutral tone) néng (second tone, rising) piányi (second tone, rising) yìdiǎn? (fourth tone, falling)
That is too expensive — could you make it a bit cheaper?
When to use it
For open-air markets and small stalls where prices are not printed. Never say it in a supermarket or a chain shop — there the price on the label is the price.
八十块，可以吗？八十塊，可以嗎？
Bāshí (first tone, high and level) kuài, (fourth tone, falling) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) ma? (neutral tone)
Eighty yuan — would that be all right?
When to use it
How you actually bargain: name your figure instead of asking vaguely for a discount. 块 (kuài) is the spoken word for yuan. Only make an offer if you are willing to buy at that price.
我再看看，谢谢。我再看看，謝謝。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) kànkan, (fourth tone, falling) xièxie. (fourth tone, falling)
I will have another look around, thank you.
When to use it
The polite way out of a stall without saying no. It is understood as “not at that price”, and it is also what often brings the seller’s last offer.
有没有大一号的？有沒有大一號的？
Yǒu (third tone, dipping) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) dà (fourth tone, falling) yí (second tone, rising) hào (fourth tone, falling) de? (neutral tone)
Do you have this one size bigger?
When to use it
Clothing sizes run smaller than European ones, so this is the sentence you will need first. 小一号的 asks for one size down.
可以试一下吗？试衣间在哪儿？可以試一下嗎？試衣間在哪兒？
Kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) yíxià (second tone, rising) ma? (neutral tone) Shìyījiān (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) nǎr? (third tone, dipping)
May I try it on? Where is the fitting room?
When to use it
Ask before you take anything off the rail. Small shops and market stalls often have no fitting room at all, which is worth knowing before you buy.
如果不合适，可以退换吗？如果不合適，可以退換嗎？
Rúguǒ (second tone, rising) bù (fourth tone, falling) héshì, (second tone, rising) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) tuìhuàn (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone)
If it does not fit, can I return or exchange it?
When to use it
Ask before you pay, not after. 退换 covers both refund and exchange; chain shops usually allow one with the receipt, while market stalls generally do not take anything back.
麻烦给我一个袋子。麻煩給我一個袋子。
Máfan (second tone, rising) gěi (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) dàizi. (fourth tone, falling)
Could I have a bag, please.
When to use it
Bags are charged for in supermarkets and are not handed out automatically, so this is a daily sentence. Most people carry a folded cloth bag instead.
我扫您的码还是您扫我的？我掃您的碼還是您掃我的？
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) sǎo (third tone, dipping) nín (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) mǎ (third tone, dipping) háishi (second tone, rising) nín (second tone, rising) sǎo (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) de? (neutral tone)
Shall I scan your code, or will you scan mine?
When to use it
The question every market transaction ends with. Small sellers usually have a printed code you scan and then type the amount into; bigger shops scan the payment code on your screen instead.
一共多少钱？一共多少錢？
Yígòng (second tone, rising) duōshao (first tone, high and level) qián? (second tone, rising)
How much is that altogether?
When to use it
Ask once everything is on the counter or the scale. 一共 (yígòng) means “in total”, and it stops the price being recited item by item.
请问，你们收现金吗？請問，你們收現金嗎？
Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) nǐmen (third tone, dipping) shōu (first tone, high and level) xiànjīn (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone)
Excuse me, do you take cash?
When to use it
Ask before the goods are weighed if your phone payment is not set up yet. Cash is legal tender everywhere, but a small seller may genuinely have no change, so break large notes when you can.
Cultural notes
Where you are standing decides whether you may bargain. In a supermarket, a mall or any chain shop the printed price is fixed and haggling would be odd; in an outdoor market, a clothing stall or a tourist street it is expected, and the first figure quoted is an opening position. Bargaining is done in a friendly, unhurried way: name a price, let the seller counter, and be ready to buy at the number you said — walking away after your own offer is accepted is what actually causes offence. is the standard face-saving exit and often produces a better price on your way out. Produce is priced by the (jīn), which is 500 g, and means a full kilo; the seller weighs your bag on an electronic scale that prints the total. Payment is overwhelmingly by phone: almost every stall, however small, has a printed QR code, and there are two directions — you scan the seller’s code and enter the amount, or the seller scans the payment code you display. Cash is still accepted by law and by habit, but small sellers may not hold much change. Plastic bags are chargeable in supermarkets. Clothing sizes are cut smaller than European equivalents and vary a great deal between brands, so try things on where you can. Returns are normal in large chains with the receipt and unusual at small stalls, which is why is worth asking before you hand over the money rather than after.
These notes describe common practice, not rules. Requirements and procedures differ between cities, institutions and years — confirm anything procedural with the office, clinic or company itself.
Vocabulary
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Shopping and Markets
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请问，这个多少钱？請問，這個多少錢？
Qǐngwèn, zhège duōshao qián?
Excuse me, how much is this?
苹果一斤多少钱？蘋果一斤多少錢？
Píngguǒ yì jīn duōshao qián?
How much are the apples per jin?
我要两斤，谢谢。我要兩斤，謝謝。
Wǒ yào liǎng jīn, xièxie.
I will take two jin, thank you.
太贵了，能不能便宜一点？太貴了，能不能便宜一點？
Tài guì le, néng bu néng piányi yìdiǎn?
That is too expensive — could you make it a bit cheaper?
八十块，可以吗？八十塊，可以嗎？
Bāshí kuài, kěyǐ ma?
Eighty yuan — would that be all right?
我再看看，谢谢。我再看看，謝謝。
Wǒ zài kànkan, xièxie.
I will have another look around, thank you.
有没有大一号的？有沒有大一號的？
Yǒu méiyǒu dà yí hào de?
Do you have this one size bigger?
可以试一下吗？试衣间在哪儿？可以試一下嗎？試衣間在哪兒？
Kěyǐ shì yíxià ma? Shìyījiān zài nǎr?
May I try it on? Where is the fitting room?
如果不合适，可以退换吗？如果不合適，可以退換嗎？
Rúguǒ bù héshì, kěyǐ tuìhuàn ma?
If it does not fit, can I return or exchange it?
麻烦给我一个袋子。麻煩給我一個袋子。
Máfan gěi wǒ yí ge dàizi.
Could I have a bag, please.
我扫您的码还是您扫我的？我掃您的碼還是您掃我的？
Wǒ sǎo nín de mǎ háishi nín sǎo wǒ de?
Shall I scan your code, or will you scan mine?
一共多少钱？一共多少錢？
Yígòng duōshao qián?
How much is that altogether?
请问，你们收现金吗？請問，你們收現金嗎？
Qǐngwèn, nǐmen shōu xiànjīn ma?
Excuse me, do you take cash?