{"id":183078,"date":"2014-08-19T00:56:36","date_gmt":"2014-08-19T04:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/useful-mandarin-chinese-phrases-shopping-vocabulary\/"},"modified":"2025-02-24T09:09:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T14:09:53","slug":"useful-mandarin-chinese-phrases-shopping-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/chinese\/useful-mandarin-chinese-phrases-shopping-vocabulary\/","title":{"rendered":"45 Must-know Words and Phrases for Shopping in Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you need to find out how to get to the grocery store, where to buy painkillers for your massive migraine or how much the dress you’ve been eyeing costs, your Mandarin skills need to come in clutch.<\/p>\n

There are tons of useful terms you need to know to successfully go shopping in Chinese\u2014from asking questions to reading signs and labels.<\/p>\n

So in this post, I’ll go over 15 must-know Mandarin phrases and 30 vocabulary words for your next Chinese shopping spree.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sections in a Store in Chinese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Chinese<\/th>Pinyin<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u670d\u88c5\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>f\u00fa zhu\u0101ng<\/i><\/td>Clothing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u98df\u54c1\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u00ed p\u01d0n<\/i><\/td>Food<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u73a9\u5177\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>w\u00e1n j\u00f9<\/i><\/td>Toys<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5bb6\u5177\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>ji\u0101 j\u00f9<\/i><\/td>Furniture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u978b\u7c7b\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>xi\u00e9 l\u00e8i<\/i><\/td>Shoes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5316\u5986\u54c1\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>hu\u00e0 zhu\u0101ng p\u01d0n<\/i><\/td>Cosmetics<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u7535\u5668\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>di\u00e0n q\u00ec<\/i><\/td>Appliances<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u4f53\u80b2\u7528\u54c1\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>t\u01d0 y\u00f9 y\u00f2ng p\u01d0n<\/i><\/td>Sporting goods<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u56fe\u4e66\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>t\u00fa sh\u016b<\/i><\/td>Books<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u73e0\u5b9d\u9996\u9970\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>zh\u016b b\u01ceo sh\u01d2u sh\u00ec<\/i><\/td>Jewelry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u6570\u7801\u4ea7\u54c1\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u00f9 m\u01ce ch\u01cen p\u01d0n<\/i><\/td>Electronics<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u529e\u516c\u7528\u54c1\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>b\u00e0n g\u014dng y\u00f2ng p\u01d0n<\/i><\/td>Office supplies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5ba0\u7269\u7528\u54c1\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>ch\u01d2ng w\u00f9 y\u00f2ng p\u01d0n<\/i><\/td>Pet supplies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u7f8e\u672f\u7528\u54c1\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>m\u011bi sh\u00f9 y\u00f2ng p\u01d0n<\/i><\/td>Art supplies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u65e5\u7528\u54c1\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>r\u00ec y\u00f2ng p\u01d0n<\/i><\/td>Household items<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Types of Stores in Chinese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Chinese<\/th>Pinyin<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u8d85\u5e02\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>ch\u0101o sh\u00ec<\/i><\/td>Supermarket<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u767e\u8d27\u5546\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>b\u01cei hu\u00f2 sh\u0101ng di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Department store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u4e66\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u016b di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Bookstore<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u7535\u5668\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>di\u00e0n q\u00ec di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Electronics store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u4e94\u91d1\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>w\u01d4 j\u012bn di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Hardware store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u670d\u88c5\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>f\u00fa zhu\u0101ng di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Clothing store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u98df\u54c1\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u00ed p\u01d0n di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Grocery store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5bb6\u5177\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>ji\u0101 j\u00f9 di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Furniture store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5316\u5986\u54c1\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>hu\u00e0 zhu\u0101ng p\u01d0n di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Cosmetics store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u73e0\u5b9d\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>zh\u016b b\u01ceo di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Jewelry store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u73a9\u5177\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>w\u00e1n j\u00f9 di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Toy store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u4f53\u80b2\u7528\u54c1\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>t\u01d0 y\u00f9 y\u00f2ng p\u01d0n di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Sporting goods store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u978b\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>xi\u00e9 di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Shoe store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u836f\u5e97\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>y\u00e0o di\u00e0n<\/i><\/td>Pharmacy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5e02\u573a\u00a0 <\/a>\n <\/td>sh\u00ec ch\u01ceng<\/i><\/td>Market<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

How to Ask Questions When Shopping in Chinese<\/h2>\n

1. \u767e\u8d27\u516c\u53f8\u5728\u54ea\u513f?<\/h3>\n

Pinyin:<\/strong> b\u01cei hu\u00f2 g\u014dng s\u012b z\u00e0i n\u01ce \u00e9r?<\/em>
\nEnglish:<\/strong> Where is the department store?<\/p>\n

Another word for “department store” is \u767e\u8d27\u5546\u5e97 (b\u0103i hu\u00f2 sh\u0101ng di\u00e0n)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re asking where the shopping mall is located, use \u5546\u573a (sh\u0101ng ch\u01ceng),<\/em>\u00a0\u8d85\u7ea7\u5e02\u573a\u00a0(ch\u0101o j\u00ed sh\u00ec ch\u01ceng)<\/em> for supermarket or \u591c\u5e02\u00a0(y\u00e8 sh\u00ec)<\/em> for the night market.<\/p>\n

These are probably the most common words you’ll encounter when going shopping in Chinese.<\/p>\n

2. \u51e0\u697c\u662f\u5973\u88c5?<\/h3>\n

Pinyin: <\/strong>j\u01d0 l\u00f3u sh\u00ec n\u01da zhu\u0101ng?<\/em>
\nEnglish: <\/strong>Which floor is the women’s\u00a0section?<\/p>\n

You can use\u00a0\u7537\u88c5 (n\u00e1n zhu\u0101ng)<\/em> for menswear.<\/p>\n

3. \u5b55\u5987\u88c5\u5728\u54ea\u91cc\u5356?<\/h3>\n

Pinyin: <\/strong>y\u00f9n f\u00f9 zhu\u0101ng z\u00e0i n\u01ce l\u01d0 m\u00e0i?<\/em>
\nEnglish: <\/strong>Where do you sell maternity dresses?<\/p>\n

\u5b55\u5987 refers to a pregnant woman. So attach a \u88c5 to it, and it becomes “maternity dress” since \u88c5 refers to clothing.<\/p>\n

Use \u9999\u6c34 (xi\u0101ng shu\u01d0)<\/em> if you’re looking for perfume, and \u957f\u88e4 (ch\u00e1ng k\u00f9)<\/em> for pants. You can also check out this post for a complete list of clothing items<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. \u6211\u53ef\u4e0d\u53ef\u4ee5\u8bd5\u4e00\u4e0b? \u4f60\u4eec\u8bd5\u8863\u95f4\u5728\u54ea\u513f?<\/h3>\n

Pinyin: <\/strong>w\u01d2 k\u011b b\u00fa k\u011b y\u01d0 sh\u00ec y\u012b xi\u00e0? n\u01d0 men sh\u00ec y\u012b ji\u0101n z\u00e0i n\u01cer?<\/em>
\nEnglish: <\/strong>Can I try this on? Where is your fitting room?<\/p>\n

When trying on clothes, find out how many items you can bring to the fitting room at a time. Sometimes you can bring three to five items depending on where you shop, so read the signs carefully.<\/p>\n

Normally someone is there to assist you, just like shops in the United States.<\/p>\n

If you have to call their attention, use \u5c0f\u59d0 (xi\u0103o ji\u0115)<\/em> \u2014 miss and \u5148\u751f (xi\u0101n sh\u0113ng) \u2014<\/em> sir.<\/p>\n

5. \u4f60\u4eec\u9644\u8fd1\u6709\u6ca1\u6709\u6d17\u624b\u95f4?<\/h3>\n

Pinyin: <\/strong>n\u01d0 men f\u00f9 j\u00ecn y\u01d2u m\u00e9i y\u01d2u x\u01d0 sh\u01d2u ji\u0101n?<\/em>
\nEnglish: <\/strong>Is there a restroom nearby?<\/p>\n

\u6d17\u624b\u95f4 is the word for restroom. This is the more common way of saying it, although some people still use \u5395\u6240\u00a0(c\u00e8 su\u014f)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

How to Check Out Your Items in Chinese<\/h2>\n

6. \u8fd9\u4ef6\u591a\u5c11\u94b1\uff1f<\/h3>\n

Pinyin: <\/strong>zh\u00e8 ji\u00e0n du\u014d sh\u01ceo qi\u00e1n?<\/em>
\nEnglish: <\/strong>How much is this piece?<\/p>\n

There are many ways you can ask about the price.<\/p>\n

For example, if you’ve already chosen your items, you can tell the cashier \u8bf7\u5e2e\u6211\u7b97\u4e00\u4e0b (q\u01d0ng b\u0101ng w\u01d2 su\u00e0n y\u012b xi\u00e0)<\/em>. Then, the cashier would ring up all your items.<\/p>\n

7. \u7b80\u76f4\u592a\u8d35\u4e86! \u7ed9\u6211\u4fbf\u5b9c\u70b9\u5427!<\/h3>\n

Pinyin: <\/strong>ji\u0103n zh\u00ed t\u00e0i gu\u00ec le! g\u011bi w\u01d2 pi\u00e1n yi di\u01cen ba!<\/em>
\nEnglish: <\/strong>This is really too expensive. Please give me a lower price.<\/p>\n

Use this phrase when you’re in the night market or when you’re buying from street-side vendors where there are no fixed prices.<\/p>\n

If the seller gives you a price, you can say \u518d\u4fbf\u5b9c\u4e00\u70b9 (z\u00e0i pi\u00e1n yi y\u00ec di\u01cen) <\/em>\u2014 make it cheaper.<\/p>\n

This was particularly useful for me when I was shopping in Shanghai. I was trying to haggle for a lower price and kept saying this. And it worked! The lady gave me a lower price.<\/p>\n

Just a tip when shopping: if they don’t agree to your price, you can walk out of the shop. They normally then call you back and agree to your rate. So start practicing your bargaining skills and you’ll get the best price out there.<\/p>\n

One of the best ways to prepare to go shopping in Chinese is by observing. You can watch videos\u2014like the videos on FluentU<\/a>\u2014to start feeling more comfortable in authentic, on-the-streets Chinese scenarios.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

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