Shopping & Bargaining
多少钱? (how much?), 太贵了 (too expensive), 便宜一点 (a little cheaper), 我要这个 (I'll take this). Sizes in Chinese, color review, 超市 (supermarket) vs. 市场 (market).
A lesson of Mandarin A2 — Elementary, in Practical Skills A2, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will navigate a Chinese market or shop, ask prices, express your budget, bargain politely, and use size and color vocabulary in context.
Where People Shop
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 超市 | chāoshì | supermarket |
| 商场 / 购物中心 | shāngchǎng / gòuwù zhōngxīn | shopping mall |
| 市场 | shìchǎng | market (outdoor/informal) |
| 菜市场 | càishìchǎng | wet market (food) |
| 网上购物 | wǎngshàng gòuwù | online shopping |
| 店 | diàn | shop / store |
| 百货公司 | bǎihuò gōngsī | department store |
The key difference: 超市 (supermarket) has fixed prices. 市场 (market) usually allows bargaining (讲价 jiǎngjià).
Asking About Price
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 多少钱? | duōshao qián? | How much (is it)? |
| 这个多少钱? | zhège duōshao qián? | How much is this? |
| 一共多少钱? | yīgòng duōshao qián? | How much is it altogether? |
| 打折吗? | dǎzhé ma? | Is it on sale / discounted? |
| 最低多少? | zuìdī duōshao? | What's the lowest (price)? |
Chinese Currency
| Chinese | Pinyin | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 人民币 | rénmínbì (RMB) | official name for Chinese currency |
| 元 / 块 | yuán / kuài | yuan — formal (元) vs. spoken (块) |
| 角 / 毛 | jiǎo / máo | 10 fen — formal (角) vs. spoken (毛) |
| 分 | fēn | smallest unit (1/100 of a yuan) |
In speech: 五块三毛 = 5.30 RMB | 二十八块五 = 28.50 RMB Written prices: ¥28.50 = 二十八元五角
Expressing Reactions to Price
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 太贵了！ |