{"id":14880,"date":"2019-10-21T07:00:28","date_gmt":"2019-10-21T11:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/?p=14880"},"modified":"2019-10-24T03:38:06","modified_gmt":"2019-10-24T07:38:06","slug":"useful-vocabulary-for-shopping-in-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/useful-vocabulary-for-shopping-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Useful Vocabulary for Shopping in China"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image via Pixabay<\/p><\/div>\n

When visiting China it is so tempting to go shopping. Every item I buy bears memories from another delightful trip in The Middle Kingdom.<\/p>\n

\u4e70\u4e1c\u897f<\/strong> (m\u01cei d\u014dng x\u012b)<\/strong> is a general phrase (verb + object) that literally means to buy things<\/em>. It is a useful phrase, referring to almost any kind of shopping. I use this phrase all the time. When going to the nearest store wearing pajamas to buy \u82cf\u6253\u997c\u5e72<\/a> (s\u016b d\u01ce b\u01d0ng g\u0101n, famous Chinese crackers), or when meeting a friend on the main street (\u5927\u8857 d\u00e0 ji\u0113) to search for new clothes.<\/p>\n

When dividing the phrase \u8d2d\u7269<\/strong> (g\u00f2u w\u00f9)<\/strong> to verb and object, the same literal meaning is presented \u2013 to buy things<\/em>. \u8d2d and \u4e70 are both verbs that mean to buy<\/em>; \u7269 and \u4e1c\u897f are both nouns that mean things<\/em>. But while \u4e70\u4e1c\u897f is a spoken language, \u8d2d\u7269 is a much more elegant way of speaking.<\/p>\n

\u4e70\u4e1c\u897f and \u8d2d\u7269 both involve spending money \u82b1\u94b1 (hu\u0101 qi\u00e1n)<\/strong>, as one would expect from shopping. Another Chinese phrase that means shopping \u2013 \u901b\u8857 (gu\u00e0ng ji\u0113)<\/strong> \u2013 doesn\u2019t necessary include money \u4e0d\u4e00\u5b9a\u8981\u82b1\u94b1 (b\u00f9 y\u012b d\u00ecng y\u00e0o hu\u0101 qi\u00e1n). \u901b\u8857 literally translated to loiter on the street<\/em>, and it\u2019s used as the Chinese equivalent for window shopping. For me, as a foreigner, \u5728\u4e2d\u56fd\u901b\u8857\u5f88\u6709\u8da3 (z\u00e0i zh\u014dng gu\u00f3 gu\u00e0ng ji\u0113 h\u011bn y\u01d2u q\u00f9, going window shopping in China is very interesting). I enjoy exploring the variety of shops and stalls, taking in the Chinese street views and smells, and even picking up snippets from people\u2019s conversations.<\/p>\n

If you do \u4e70\u4e1c\u897f or \u8d2d\u7269 expect to \u82b1\u94b1. Every item has a price (\u4ef7\u683c ji\u00e0 g\u00e9, or, \u4ef7\u94b1 ji\u00e0 qian), and every seller wish to make a profit (\u8d5a\u94b1 zhu\u00e0n qi\u00e1n). But customers (\u987e\u5ba2g\u00f9 k\u00e8, or, \u5ba2\u6237k\u00e8 h\u00f9) always wish to pay less. Haggling over the price (\u8ba8\u4ef7\u8fd8\u4ef7 t\u01ceo ji\u00e0 hu\u00e1n ji\u00e0<\/strong>) is common in China. The Chinese language has many verbs that mean to negotiate the price<\/em>: \u8bae\u4ef7 y\u00ec ji\u00e0, \u8bb2\u4ef7 ji\u01ceng ji\u00e0, \u780d\u4ef7 k\u01cen ji\u00e0.<\/p>\n

When entering an independently owned business in China you should feel free to bargain. Useful sentences to start the bargaining process, and to express your dissatisfaction with the high price, can include:<\/p>\n