Chinese Shopping Phrases: How to Shop in China

A few Chinese shopping phrases can make shopping in China much easier. You do not need fluent Mandarin to ask about prices, quantities, sizes, or payment.

This guide covers everyday Chinese for food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores, clothing stores, and shopping centers. You will also learn how 斤 (jīn) works, how Chinese discounts are written, and how to pay in Chinese.

New to everyday Mandarin? Start with our Essential Chinese Phrases for Daily Life.

Quick Answer: Chinese Shopping Phrases to Know

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
这个多少钱？	Zhège duōshao qián?	How much is this?
我要那个。	Wǒ yào nàge.	I want that one.
可以用支付宝吗？	Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?	Can I use Alipay?
可以刷卡吗？	Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?	Can I pay by card?

These four Chinese phrases cover many everyday purchases, from checking a price to choosing an item and paying.

This One, That One, and Asking the Price

Two useful expressions for shopping are:

这个 (zhège) — this one
那个 (nàge) — that one

When you do not know the Chinese name of an item, pointing and using 这个 or 那个 is often enough.

To say I want that one:

我要那个。 (Wǒ yào nàge.)

A natural way to say buy that one in Chinese is:

我想买那个。 (Wǒ xiǎng mǎi nàge.) — I want to buy that one.

To ask the price:

这个多少钱？ (Zhège duōshao qián?) — How much is this?

For something farther away:

那个多少钱？ (Nàge duōshao qián?) — How much is that?

These are simple Chinese characters, but they are useful in almost any shop.

斤 (Jīn), Kilograms, and Quantities

Understanding 斤 (jīn) is especially useful for grocery shopping in China.

1 斤 = 500 grams = 0.5 kilograms

So two 斤 equal one kilogram, 半斤 is 250 grams, and 一斤半 is 750 grams.

At many Chinese markets, sellers use 斤 instead of kilograms for fruit, vegetables, meat, and other foods.

If a seller says:

十块钱一斤。 (Shí kuài qián yì jīn.)

the price is 10 RMB for 500 grams.

To ask:

一斤多少钱？ (Yì jīn duōshao qián?) — How much per jīn?

How Do You Say Kilogram in Chinese?

公斤 (gōngjīn) means kilogram.

To ask for one kilogram, you can say:

我要一公斤。 (Wǒ yào yì gōngjīn.)

You can also say:

我要两斤。 (Wǒ yào liǎng jīn.) — I want two jīn, or one kilogram.

两 vs 二

Chinese uses both 二 (èr) and 两 (liǎng) for two.

Use 两 before common counters and units, such as 两个 (two items), 两瓶 (two bottles), and 两斤 (two jīn).

Use 二 when it forms part of a number, such as 二十二 for 22.

Chinese measure words such as 个 and 瓶 are common when giving quantities. For the full number system, see our Chinese Numbers guide.

Chinese Shopping Phrases for Markets and Supermarkets

Markets and supermarkets work in similar ways, but traditional markets usually involve more conversation.

At a market, you may speak directly with the seller about prices and quantities:

这个多少钱？ — How much is this?
一斤多少钱？ — How much per jīn?
我要两斤。 — I want two jīn.
有别的吗？ — Do you have another one?
我再看看。 — I’ll look around a little more.

Supermarkets and convenience stores usually have fixed prices, so shopping is simpler. A little Chinese still helps when you need to find something or weigh fresh food.

这个在哪里？ (Zhège zài nǎli?) — Where is this?

这个要先称吗？ (Zhège yào xiān chēng ma?) — Should I weigh this first?

帮我称一下。 (Bāng wǒ chēng yíxià.) — Please weigh this for me.

In mainland China, large supermarkets often sell much more than food. You can usually find drinks, snacks, personal-care products, and household items in the same store.

Can You Bargain in China?

If there is no fixed price, you can sometimes bargain at traditional markets and small shops.

Supermarkets, chain stores, department stores, and most shopping centers normally stick to the marked price.

Useful phrases include:

太贵了。 (Tài guì le.) — Too expensive.

能便宜一点吗？ (Néng piányi yìdiǎn ma?) — Can it be a little cheaper?

最低多少钱？ (Zuìdī duōshao qián?) — What is the lowest price?

Keep it friendly and relaxed.

Shopping in Chinese at Clothing Stores

Shopping at modern clothing stores is usually straightforward. In a large shopping mall or department store, staff can help with sizes, colors, and fitting rooms.

• 可以试一下吗？ (Kěyǐ shì yíxià ma?) — Can I try it on?
• 试衣间在哪里？ (Shìyījiān zài nǎli?) — Where is the fitting room?
• 有大一点的吗？ (Yǒu dà yìdiǎn de ma?) — Do you have a bigger one?
• 有小一点的吗？ (Yǒu xiǎo yìdiǎn de ma?) — Do you have a smaller one?
• 有别的颜色吗？ (Yǒu bié de yánsè ma?) — Do you have another color?

These phrases also work in many other retail stores.

How Do Discounts Work in Chinese?

Chinese discount signs work differently from the percentage-off system many visitors know.

The number before 折 (zhé) tells you how much of the original price you pay.

Discount	You pay	Equivalent discount
九折	90%	10% off
八折	80%	20% off
七折	70%	30% off
五折	50%	50% off

For example, if an item costs 100 RMB and the sign says 八折, you pay 80 RMB.

Other useful sale words include 打折 (dǎzhé, discount/on sale), 特价 (tèjià, special price), 半价 (bànjià, half price), and 促销 (cùxiāo, promotion).

You may also see:

全场八折 (Quánchǎng bā zhé) — Everything is 20% off.

第二件半价 (Dì èr jiàn bànjià) — The second item is half price.

How to Pay in Chinese

Mobile payment is common for everyday shopping. Many shoppers use Alipay or WeChat Pay, while some stores also take cash, debit cards, and credit cards.

For Alipay:

可以用支付宝吗？ (Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?) — Can I use Alipay?

For WeChat Pay:

可以用微信支付吗？ (Kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn Zhīfù ma?) — Can I use WeChat Pay?

For cash:

可以付现金吗？ (Kěyǐ fù xiànjīn ma?) — Can I pay cash?

To pay by card:

可以刷卡吗？ (Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?) — Can I pay by card?

我扫你还是你扫我？: Who Scans Whom?

QR payment can work in two directions. You may scan the shop’s code, or the cashier may scan yours.

我扫你还是你扫我？
Wǒ sǎo nǐ háishì nǐ sǎo wǒ?
Do I scan you, or do you scan me?

Possible replies are:

你扫我。 (Nǐ sǎo wǒ.) — You scan me.

我扫你。 (Wǒ sǎo nǐ.) — I’ll scan you.

After you see this process a few times, it becomes much easier to follow.

Common Chinese Words for Shopping

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
钱	qián	money
块	kuài	spoken RMB / yuan
斤	jīn	500 grams
公斤	gōngjīn	kilogram
便宜	piányi	cheap
贵	guì	expensive
买	mǎi	buy
卖	mài	sell
现金	xiànjīn	cash
刷卡	shuākǎ	pay by card

These common Chinese words cover many situations involving prices, quantities, and payment.

Final Thoughts

You do not need fluent Mandarin to shop comfortably in China. Focus first on prices, quantities, choosing items, and payment, then add terms such as 斤 and 折 as you come across them.

Once you know the basics, supermarkets, markets, clothing stores, and shopping centers become much easier to handle.

For more everyday Mandarin, see our Essential Chinese Phrases for Daily Life guide.

Frequently Asked Questions