How to bargain at a market in Chinese
You're at a souvenir market in Beijing where bargaining is normal. You like a small paper fan. 王阿姨 (Auntie Wang) asks 50 yuan, says once it's already cheap, then comes down.
How the conversation starts
王阿姨 (Auntie Wang) · market vendor
Bargain at a market
What you do
- Ask the price of an item
- Ask for a lower price
- Say you want to buy it
What to say
- 这个多少钱？Zhège duōshao qián?How much is this?
- 太贵了。Tài guì le.Too expensive.
- 便宜一点，好吗？Piányi yìdiǎn, hǎo ma?A little cheaper, okay?
- 我要这个。Wǒ yào zhège.I want this one.
- 谢谢。Xièxie.Thank you.
Bargain at a market
You're at a souvenir market in Beijing where bargaining is normal. 王阿姨 (Auntie Wang) shows you a silk scarf. She starts at 150 yuan, says once it's already a good price, then comes down to about 100. Pay by scanning her QR code.
What you do
- Ask the price of the scarf
- Ask for a lower price
- Say you want to buy it
What to say
- 多少钱？Duōshao qián?How much is it?
4 more sentences in this lesson, in the app.
Market: bargain harder, then a stain
You're at a souvenir market in Beijing where bargaining is normal. Auntie Wang sells silk scarves. You want two, maybe three, for presents. Pay by scanning her QR code.
What you do
- Ask the price of two scarves and bargain
- Offer to buy three for a better total
- One scarf has a stain: point it out and ask for another
What to say
- 这两条围巾一共多少钱？Zhè liǎng tiáo wéijīn yígòng duōshao qián?How much for these two scarves together?
4 more sentences in this lesson, in the app.
Now say it out loud
In Kaiko, 王阿姨 (Auntie Wang) answers you out loud in Chinese, and a coach corrects you as you go.