Shopping in China: Practical Chinese Phrases

When traveling in China, you may encounter shopping situations where you don’t know how to express yourself in Chinese, such as asking the price of a shirt, finding the right size or color, trying on clothes, bargaining at a market, or paying with Alipay or WeChat Pay. This article will introduce practical Chinese vocabulary and expressions to help you shop confidently in China, from entering a store and choosing products to asking about prices, making payments, and handling problems after a purchase.

1. Essential Chinese Vocabulary for Shopping

First, let’s learn some common words you’ll encounter in shops, shopping malls, and markets.

Understanding 便宜, 打折, and 优惠

All three words are related to prices, but they have different meanings.

便宜 means cheap or inexpensive. It describes the price of a product.

这个很便宜。 / Zhè ge hěn pián yi. / This is very cheap.

打折 refers to selling something at a discounted price.

这件衣服打折吗？ / Zhè jiàn yī fu dǎ zhé ma? / Is this piece of clothing on sale?

优惠 is a broader term referring to special offers, discounts, or promotional benefits.

现在有什么优惠吗？ / Xiàn zài yǒu shén me yōu huì ma? / Are there any special offers right now?

One important detail is how discounts work in Chinese. For example, 八折 means you pay 80% of the original price, which is equivalent to a 20% discount, not an 80% discount.

2. Entering a Store and Looking at Products

When you enter a store in China, you may hear the staff say:

欢迎光临！ / Huān yíng guāng lín! / Welcome!

If a salesperson asks:

您好，需要帮忙吗？ / Nín hǎo, xū yào bāng máng ma? / Hello, do you need any help?

You can respond depending on what you want to do.

When You Just Want to Browse

我先随便看看。 / Wǒ xiān suí biàn kàn kan. / I’m just looking around for now.

Or:

我先看看，谢谢。 / Wǒ xiān kàn kan, xiè xie. / I’ll have a look first, thank you.

These expressions are useful when you’re not ready to buy anything or prefer to browse on your own.

When You Want to Look at a Specific Item

If you see a shirt and want the salesperson to show it to you:

我想看看那件衣服。 / Wǒ xiǎng kàn kan nà jiàn yī fu. / I’d like to take a look at that piece of clothing.

If the item is inside a display case:

可以给我看一下这个吗？ / Kě yǐ gěi wǒ kàn yí xià zhè ge ma? / Could you show me this one, please?

If you want to know whether the store sells a particular product:

请问，这里有卖充电器吗？ / Qǐng wèn, zhè lǐ yǒu mài chōng diàn qì ma? / Excuse me, do you sell chargers here?

The structure 有卖……吗？ is particularly useful when you’re unsure whether a store carries the item you’re looking for.

3. Asking Prices and Getting Discounts

Asking about prices is one of the most basic shopping situations.

Asking How Much Something Costs

这个多少钱？ / Zhè ge duō shao qián? / How much is this?

If you want to ask about a shirt you’re holding:

这件衣服多少钱？ / Zhè jiàn yī fu duō shao qián? / How much is this piece of clothing?

The seller might reply:

一百二十块。 / Yì bǎi èr shí kuài. / 120 yuan.

In everyday spoken Chinese, 块 is commonly used for the Chinese currency unit, while 元 is the more formal term often seen in written prices.

Asking About Discounts

有折扣吗？ / Yǒu zhé kòu ma? / Is there a discount?

这个现在打折吗？ / Zhè ge xiàn zài dǎ zhé ma? / Is this on sale right now?

If the salesperson says:

今天八折。 / Jīn tiān bā zhé. / It’s 20% off today.

Remember that 八折 means you pay 80% of the listed price.

Bargaining for a Lower Price

At some markets and small stalls, you may be able to negotiate the price.

能便宜一点吗？ / Néng pián yi yì diǎn ma? / Could you make it a little cheaper?

If you’re buying multiple items:

我买两个，可以便宜一点吗？ / Wǒ mǎi liǎng ge, kě yǐ pián yi yì diǎn ma? / If I buy two, could you give me a better price?

If you think the price is too high:

有点贵，能再便宜一点吗？ / Yǒu diǎn guì, néng zài pián yi yì diǎn ma? / It’s a little expensive. Could you lower the price a bit more?

However, bargaining isn’t accepted everywhere in China. Supermarkets, branded stores, and shops with fixed prices generally aren’t suitable places to negotiate. In these situations, it’s better to ask about available promotions or discounts.

4. Choosing Sizes, Colors, and Trying on Clothes

When shopping for clothing or shoes, you may find something you like but need a different size or color. You might also want to try it on before deciding.

Asking About Sizes

有M码的吗？ / Yǒu M mǎ de ma? / Do you have this in size M?

If you need a larger size:

有大一号的吗？ / Yǒu dà yí hào de ma? / Do you have one size larger?

If you need a smaller size:

有小一号的吗？ / Yǒu xiǎo yí hào de ma? / Do you have one size smaller?

Asking About Colors

有别的颜色吗？ / Yǒu bié de yán sè ma? / Do you have other colors?

If you want black:

有黑色的吗？ / Yǒu hēi sè de ma? / Do you have it in black?

If you want to see other colors before deciding:

我想看看其他颜色。 / Wǒ xiǎng kàn kan qí tā yán sè. / I’d like to see the other colors.

Trying on Clothes

可以试穿吗？ / Kě yǐ shì chuān ma? / Can I try this on?

If you don’t know where the fitting room is:

试衣间在哪里？ / Shì yī jiān zài nǎ lǐ? / Where is the fitting room?

After trying something on, you can say:

这件有点紧。 / Zhè jiàn yǒu diǎn jǐn. / This one is a little tight.

这件太大了。 / Zhè jiàn tài dà le. / This one is too big.

这件很合身。 / Zhè jiàn hěn hé shēn. / This one fits really well.

Sample Conversation: Buying a Shirt

Customer:

请问，这件衣服多少钱？ / Qǐng wèn, zhè jiàn yī fu duō shao qián? / Excuse me, how much is this shirt?

Salesperson:

一百九十九块。 / Yì bǎi jiǔ shí jiǔ kuài. / 199 yuan.

Customer:

有M码的吗？我想试穿一下。 / Yǒu M mǎ de ma? Wǒ xiǎng shì chuān yí xià. / Do you have it in size M? I’d like to try it on.

Salesperson:

有的，试衣间在那边。 / Yǒu de, shì yī jiān zài nà biān. / Yes, the fitting room is over there.

Customer:

这件有点小，有大一号的吗？ / Zhè jiàn yǒu diǎn xiǎo, yǒu dà yí hào de ma? / This one is a little small. Do you have one size larger?

Salesperson:

有，我给您拿一件。 / Yǒu, wǒ gěi nín ná yí jiàn. / Yes, I’ll get one for you.

This sample conversation shows how to combine questions about prices, sizes, and trying on clothes in a single shopping situation.

5. Deciding What to Buy and Making Payments

Once you’ve found the right item, you’ll need to tell the salesperson that you want to buy it and ask about payment methods.

When You Decide to Buy Something

我就要这个。 / Wǒ jiù yào zhè ge. / I’ll take this one.

If you want to buy two items:

这两个我都要。 / Zhè liǎng ge wǒ dōu yào. / I’ll take both of these.

If you’re not ready to buy:

我再考虑一下。 / Wǒ zài kǎo lǜ yí xià. / I’ll think about it a little more.

The last expression is especially useful when you want to politely decline to make an immediate purchase.

Asking About Payment Methods

在哪里付款？ / Zài nǎ lǐ fù kuǎn? / Where do I pay?

可以用支付宝吗？ / Kě yǐ yòng Zhī fù bǎo ma? / Can I pay with Alipay?

可以用微信支付吗？ / Kě yǐ yòng Wēi xìn zhī fù ma? / Can I pay with WeChat Pay?

If you want to pay with cash:

可以付现金吗？ / Kě yǐ fù xiàn jīn ma? / Can I pay in cash?

If the salesperson asks you to scan a code:

请扫码付款。 / Qǐng sǎo mǎ fù kuǎn. / Please scan the code to pay.

Here, 扫码 means scanning a QR code or payment code.

Asking for a Bag or Receipt

可以给我一个袋子吗？ / Kě yǐ gěi wǒ yí ge dài zi ma? / Could I have a bag, please?

请给我小票。 / Qǐng gěi wǒ xiǎo piào. / Please give me the receipt.

It’s important to distinguish 小票 from 发票. 小票 usually refers to a regular store receipt, while 发票 refers to an official invoice under China’s invoicing system. If you need documentation for accounting or tax-related purposes, make sure to ask for the appropriate type.

6. Important Things to Remember When Shopping in China

Not Every Store Allows Bargaining

Bargaining may be acceptable at traditional markets or small stalls. However, prices are generally fixed at branded stores, supermarkets, and shopping malls.

If you’re unsure whether a discount is available, you can ask:

请问，有什么优惠吗？ / Qǐng wèn, yǒu shén me yōu huì ma? / Excuse me, are there any special offers?

This question is suitable for more shopping situations than directly asking a seller to lower the price.

Check Sizes Carefully Before Buying

Clothing and shoe sizes may vary between brands. Don’t rely only on the size you normally wear.

If you’re unsure whether an item will fit:

我可以试一下吗？ / Wǒ kě yǐ shì yí xià ma? / Can I try it?

For clothing, 试穿 specifically means trying something on. 试一下 is broader and can also be used when testing an item or checking a function.

Ask About Returns and Exchanges Before Paying

If you’re buying an expensive item or something that’s difficult to inspect immediately, you may want to ask about the return policy.

这个可以退货吗？ / Zhè ge kě yǐ tuì huò ma? / Can this item be returned?

如果尺码不合适，可以换吗？ / Rú guǒ chǐ mǎ bù hé shì, kě yǐ huàn ma? / If the size doesn’t fit, can I exchange it?

退货 means returning an item, while 换货 means exchanging it.

Return and exchange conditions may depend on the product category, the purchasing method, and the applicable store policies. Don’t assume that every item purchased in a physical store can be returned simply because you’ve changed your mind.

When Something Goes Wrong with Payment

If your payment doesn’t go through:

付款失败了。 / Fù kuǎn shī bài le. / The payment failed.

If your app shows that money has been deducted but the cashier hasn’t received confirmation:

我这边显示已经扣款了，您能帮我确认一下吗？ / Wǒ zhè biān xiǎn shì yǐ jīng kòu kuǎn le, nín néng bāng wǒ què rèn yí xià ma? / My app shows that the money has already been deducted. Could you help me check?

In this situation, it’s best to verify the transaction status before paying again to avoid being charged twice.

7. Practice Exercise

You’re shopping at a clothing store in Shanghai.

You see a shirt you like, but you don’t know the price. You want to ask whether it’s available in black and size M, then try it on. If it fits, you’ll buy it and pay with Alipay.

Write Chinese sentences for the following situations:

1. Ask how much the shirt costs.
2. Ask whether it’s available in black and size M.
3. Ask permission to try it on.
4. Say that you want to buy it.
5. Ask whether you can pay with Alipay.

Suggested Answers

1. Asking the Price

请问，这件衣服多少钱？ / Qǐng wèn, zhè jiàn yī fu duō shao qián? / Excuse me, how much is this shirt?

2. Asking About Size and Color

有黑色的M码吗？ / Yǒu hēi sè de M mǎ ma? / Do you have this in black, size M?

3. Asking to Try It On

我可以试穿一下吗？ / Wǒ kě yǐ shì chuān yí xià ma? / Can I try it on?

4. Deciding to Buy

这件很合身，我就要这件。 / Zhè jiàn hěn hé shēn, wǒ jiù yào zhè jiàn. / This one fits really well. I’ll take it.

5. Asking About Payment

可以用支付宝付款吗？ / Kě yǐ yòng Zhī fù bǎo fù kuǎn ma? / Can I pay with Alipay?

You can practice further by changing the product, color, size, or payment method in each example.

When shopping in China, you don’t need an extensive vocabulary to communicate effectively. By learning essential expressions such as 这个多少钱, 有别的颜色吗, 可以试穿吗, 能便宜一点吗, and 可以用支付宝吗, you’ll be able to handle many everyday shopping situations.

The key is to learn Chinese in the same order that shopping happens in real life: finding a product, asking about the price, checking the size or quality, deciding whether to buy, and making a payment.

Once you’re familiar with these expressions, you’ll feel more confident buying clothes, souvenirs, electronics, and everyday items while traveling in China.