Shopping in Chinese

Posted on by tiffany

Shopping · Mandarin Travel Phrases
MANDARIN TRAVEL PHRASES · SCENE 05 BOARDING PASS TO MANDARIN

Shopping

购物gòuwù

Asking the price, bargaining, trying things on, and checking out — everything you’ll need to say while shopping.

Price Bargain Fitting Checkout
Region
Pinyin
Translation
01

Asking the Price

Traveler
这个zhège多少钱duōshao qián？
How much is this?
Vendor
三百sānbǎi元yuán。
300.
Traveler
有点yǒudiǎn贵guì，可以kěyǐ便宜piányi一点yìdiǎn吗ma？
That’s a bit expensive, could you lower the price a little?
Must-Know 这个zhège多少钱duōshao qiánHow much is this? — point at anything and ask
02

Bargaining

Vendor
最低zuìdī两百五liǎngbǎi wǔ。
Lowest is 250.
Traveler
两百liǎngbǎi，可以kěyǐ吗ma？
200, is that okay?
Vendor
好吧hǎo ba，卖mài你nǐ两百liǎngbǎi。
Alright, I’ll sell it to you for 200.
Substitution Drill 可以kěyǐ便宜piányi一点yìdiǎn吗ma？The all-purpose haggling phrase — works at almost any market stall
03

Trying It On

Traveler
可以kěyǐ试穿shìchuān吗ma？
Can I try this on?
Staff
可以kěyǐ，试衣间shìyījiān在那边zài nàbiān。
Sure, the fitting room is over there.
Traveler
有yǒu大dà一点yìdiǎn的de尺寸chǐcùn吗ma？
Do you have a bigger size?
Staff
有yǒu，大dà一号yī hào，行xíng吗ma？
Yes, one size up — is that okay?
Traveler
行xíng，有yǒu别的bié de颜色yánsè吗ma？
Great, do you have other colors?
太大tài dàToo big 太小tài xiǎoToo small 太长tài chángToo long 太短tài duǎnToo short 太厚tài hòuToo thick 太薄tài báoToo thin
04

Checkout & Returns

Traveler
可以kěyǐ刷卡shuākǎ吗ma？
Can I pay by card?
Staff
可以kěyǐ。需要xūyào退税单tuìshuì dān吗ma？
Yes. Do you need a tax refund form?
Traveler
如果rúguǒ不合适bù héshì，可以kěyǐ退tuì吗ma？
If it doesn’t fit, can I return it?
Must-Know 可以kěyǐ退tuì吗ma？Can I return this? — always worth asking before you buy
💡

Culture Note

  • Bargaining is expected and common at markets and small independent shops in mainland China; department stores and chains have fixed prices. In Taiwan, prices are mostly fixed everywhere, including night markets, though a small discount for buying multiple items is sometimes possible.
  • Foreign tourists in Taiwan can claim a tax refund on purchases over a set amount at stores displaying a “Tax Refund” logo — the paperwork gets processed at the airport before you leave.
  • Taiwan is famous for its density of convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) — useful for grabbing almost anything cheaply, any time of day or night.
  • Mainland China is close to cashless — WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate, and some smaller vendors may not take foreign cards at all. Taiwan is more mixed, with cash still very common, especially at night markets.

Emergency Phrase Card

Screenshot or print to keep on hand

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