Markets & Souvenirs

1. 这个多少钱？

   Zhège duōshao qián?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   The most basic phrase for asking the price at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   "Duōshao qián?" is the simplest price question. "Zhège" specifies "this one"

2. 可以讲价吗？

   Kěyǐ jiǎngjià ma?

   Can I bargain on the price?

   Usage

   Checking whether bargaining is acceptable

   Grammar Note

   Bargaining is common in Chinese markets and souvenir shops. "Ma" turns a statement into a yes/no question

3. 我出一百块，好吗？

   Wǒ chū yī bǎi kuài, hǎo ma?

   I'll offer one hundred yuan, how about it?

   Usage

   Offering a counter-price during bargaining

   Grammar Note

   "Kuài" is the colloquial form of "yuán". Replace the amount to suit your offer

4. 能打折吗？

   Néng dǎzhé ma?

   Can I get a discount?

   Usage

   Asking for a discount

   Grammar Note

   "Dǎzhé" means "give a discount". "Néng piányí diǎn ma?" (can you make it cheaper?) is an alternative

5. 这是手工做的吗？

   Zhè shì shǒugōng zuò de ma?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Asking whether an item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "Shǒugōng zuò de" means "made by hand". The "de" particle emphasizes the manner of making

6. 这是什么材料做的？

   Zhè shì shénme cáiliào zuò de?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking about the material of a craft or garment

   Grammar Note

   "Shénme cáiliào" asks the material. Useful answers include "sīchóu" (silk) and "mián" (cotton)

7. 可以帮我包装成礼品吗？

   Kěyǐ bāng wǒ bāozhuāng chéng lǐpǐn ma?

   Can you gift-wrap this for me?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping for a present

   Grammar Note

   "Bāng wǒ" means "help me / do it for me". "Chéng" is a resultative complement meaning "into"

8. 夜市在哪里？

   Yèshì zài nǎlǐ?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   "Zài nǎlǐ" combines "zài" (to be at) + "nǎlǐ" (where). A universal location question

9. 能给我开收据吗？

   Néng gěi wǒ kāi shōujù ma?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Requesting a receipt

   Grammar Note

   "Kāi" means "to issue". "Shōujù" is a regular receipt; "fāpiào" is the formal tax invoice

10. 市场几点开门，几点关门？

    Shìchǎng jǐ diǎn kāimén, jǐ diǎn guānmén?

    What are the market's opening hours?

    Usage

    Asking about the market's opening and closing times

    Grammar Note

    "Jǐ diǎn" asks "what time". "Kāimén" means "opens" and "guānmén" means "closes"

11. 我只是随便看看，谢谢。

    Wǒ zhǐshì suíbiàn kànkan, xièxie.

    I'm just browsing, thank you

    Usage

    Politely declining a shopkeeper's approach

    Grammar Note

    "Suíbiàn" means "casually". "Kànkan" is a reduplicated verb softening the action to "take a look"

12. 可以刷卡吗？

    Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?

    Can I pay by card?

    Usage

    Asking if card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    "Shuākǎ" literally means "swipe the card". In China, also ask about WeChat Pay and Alipay

13. 这是给朋友买的纪念品。

    Zhè shì gěi péngyou mǎi de jìniànpǐn.

    This is a souvenir I'm buying for a friend

    Usage

    Telling the seller the item is a souvenir for someone

    Grammar Note

    "Gěi…mǎi de" expresses "bought for someone". "Jìniànpǐn" is the general term for souvenirs

14. 可以寄到国外吗？

    Kěyǐ jì dào guówài ma?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking about international shipping

    Grammar Note

    "Jì dào" uses a directional complement meaning "send to". "Guówài" means "overseas"

15. 你们卖得最好的是什么？

    Nǐmen mài de zuì hǎo de shì shénme?

    What is your best-selling item?

    Usage

    Asking the seller for their top-selling or best item

    Grammar Note

    "Mài de zuì hǎo" is a degree-complement construction: "de" introduces the complement "zuì hǎo", in which the adverb "zuì" (most) makes the superlative, meaning "sells the best"

16. 这个价格可以商量吗？

    Zhège jiàgé kěyǐ shāngliáng ma?

    Is this price negotiable?

    Usage

    Asking directly whether the listed price can be negotiated

    Grammar Note

    "Shāngliáng" means "to discuss / negotiate". It softens the request compared to "讲价"

17. 有没有别的尺码？

    Yǒu méiyǒu bié de chǐmǎ?

    Do you have a different size?

    Usage

    Looking for a different size of clothing or shoes

    Grammar Note

    "Yǒu méiyǒu" is an affirmative-negative question pattern meaning "do you have or not"

18. 这太贵了。

    Zhè tài guì le.

    This is too expensive

    Usage

    Indicating the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "Tài…le" is the standard pattern for "too…". It opens the door for price negotiation

19. 盐

    Yán

    Salt

    Usage

    Shown when buying it at a market or grocery

20. 白糖

    Báitáng

    Sugar

    Usage

    The single character "táng" can also mean candy, so "báitáng" pins it to granulated sugar

21. 胡椒

    Hújiāo

    Pepper

    Usage

    Black or white pepper; chili is "làjiāo", a separate word

22. 食用油

    Shíyòngyóu

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    The single character "yóu" also covers fuel oil, so "shíyòngyóu" pins it to cooking oil

23. 醋

    Cù

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Shown when buying it at a market or grocery

24. 黄油

    Huángyóu

    Butter

    Usage

    Called "huángyóu" in mainland China and "nǎiyóu" in Taiwan

25. 奶酪

    Nǎilào

    Cheese

    Usage

    Also used when checking for dairy

26. 蜂蜜

    Fēngmì

    Honey

    Usage

    Shown when buying it at a market or grocery

27. 酸奶

    Suānnǎi

    Yogurt

    Usage

    Called "suānnǎi" in mainland China and "yōugé" in Taiwan

Browse all TravelPhrases languages