Simple Conversations: At the Market

Visiting a market in China can be an exhilarating experience. The vibrant atmosphere, tantalizing aromas, and colorful displays of goods create a sensory feast. If you're aiming to navigate these bustling markets and engage in simple conversations, this guide will provide you with the essential phrases and dialogues you'll need.

Basic Vocabulary for Shopping

Before we dive into dialogues, let’s familiarize ourselves with some essential vocabulary that will come in handy while you’re at the market:

  • 市场 (shìchǎng) - Market
  • 买 (mǎi) - To buy
  • 卖 (mài) - To sell
  • 多少钱 (duōshao qián) - How much?
  • 便宜 (piányi) - Cheap
  • 贵 (guì) - Expensive
  • 可以 (kěyǐ) - Can/May
  • 再便宜一点 (zài piányi yīdiǎn) - A little cheaper
  • 好 (hǎo) - Good
  • 谢谢 (xièxiè) - Thank you

Dialogue 1: Buying Fruits

Scene: You approach a fruit vendor.

You: 你好！这些苹果多少钱？
(Nǐ hǎo! Zhèxiē píngguǒ duōshao qián?)
Hello! How much are these apples?

Vendor: 你好！这些苹果五块钱一斤。
(Nǐ hǎo! Zhèxiē píngguǒ wǔ kuài qián yī jīn.)
Hello! These apples are 5 yuan per half kilogram.

You: 哇！有点贵。可以便宜一点吗？
(Wā! Yǒudiǎn guì. Kěyǐ piányi yīdiǎn ma?)
Wow! That’s a bit expensive. Can you make it cheaper?

Vendor: 好吧，四块钱一斤。
(Hǎo ba, sì kuài qián yī jīn.)
Alright, 4 yuan per half kilogram.

You: 好的，我要一斤。
(Hǎo de, wǒ yào yī jīn.)
Okay, I’ll take one half kilogram.

Vendor: 这是八块钱。
(Zhè shì bā kuài qián.)
That’s 8 yuan.

You: 给你。谢谢！
(Gěi nǐ. Xièxiè!)
Here you go. Thank you!

Vocabulary recap:

  • Apple: 苹果 (píngguǒ)
  • Half kilogram: 一斤 (yī jīn)
  • Yuan: 块钱 (kuài qián)

Dialogue 2: Shopping for Vegetables

Scene: You’re at a vegetable stand.

You: 你好！这是什么菜？
(Nǐ hǎo! Zhè shì shénme cài?)
Hello! What kind of vegetable is this?

Vendor: 这是西红柿。
(Zhè shì xīhóngshì.)
This is a tomato.

You: 西红柿多少钱？
(Xīhóngshì duōshao qián?)
How much is the tomato?

Vendor: 一块钱一个。
(Yī kuài qián yīgè.)
1 yuan for one.

You: 便宜，我买两个。
(Piányi, wǒ mǎi liǎng gè.)
That’s cheap, I’ll buy two.

Vendor: 一共是两块钱。
(Yīgòng shì liǎng kuài qián.)
That’s a total of 2 yuan.

You: 给你。一切都很好。
(Gěi nǐ. Yīqiè dōu hěn hǎo.)
Here you go. Everything is great.

Vocabulary recap:

  • Tomato: 西红柿 (xīhóngshì)
  • One: 一 (yī)
  • Two: 两 (liǎng)

Dialogue 3: Bargaining for Clothes

Scene: You find a clothing stall.

You: 这件衣服好好看！
(Zhè jiàn yīfú hǎo hǎo kàn!)
This piece of clothing looks great!

Vendor: 谢谢！这件衣服八十块钱。
(Xièxiè! Zhè jiàn yīfú bāshí kuài qián.)
Thank you! This shirt is 80 yuan.

You: 有点贵。可以再便宜一点吗？
(Yǒudiǎn guì. Kěyǐ zài piányi yīdiǎn ma?)
That’s a bit expensive. Can you lower the price a bit?

Vendor: 好吧，六十块钱。
(Hǎo ba, liùshí kuài qián.)
Alright, 60 yuan.

You: 我有五十块，可以吗？
(Wǒ yǒu wǔshí kuài, kěyǐ ma?)
I have 50 yuan, is that okay?

Vendor: 嗯…好吧，卖给你。
(Ńg… hǎo ba, mài gěi nǐ.)
Hmm... okay, I’ll sell it to you.

You: 太好了，谢谢！
(Tài hǎole, xièxiè!)
Great, thank you!

Vocabulary recap:

  • Clothing: 衣服 (yīfú)
  • Fifty: 五十 (wǔshí)
  • Sixty: 六十 (liùshí)
  • Seventy: 七十 (qīshí)

Dialogue 4: Asking for Directions

Scene: You are lost and need help.

You: 请问，市场在哪里？
(Qǐngwèn, shìchǎng zài nǎlǐ?)
Excuse me, where is the market?

Passerby: 直走，然后左转。
(Zhí zǒu, ránhòu zuǒ zhuǎn.)
Go straight, then turn left.

You: 谢谢！我可以用中文说吗？
(Xièxiè! Wǒ kěyǐ yòng zhōngwén shuō ma?)
Thank you! Can I speak in Chinese?

Passerby: 可以的，我听得懂。
(Kěyǐ de, wǒ tīng dé dǒng.)
Sure, I understand.

You: 那太好了！再次谢谢！
(Nà tài hǎole! Zàicì xièxiè!)
That’s great! Thanks again!

Vocabulary recap:

  • Straight: 直走 (zhí zǒu)
  • Left: 左转 (zuǒ zhuǎn)
  • Thank you: 谢谢 (xièxiè)

Tips for Bargaining Successfully

  1. Be Friendly: A warm smile and polite greetings can help you establish a good rapport with vendors.

  2. Know the Prices: Familiarizing yourself with the average prices of goods can give you confidence when bargaining.

  3. Start Low: It's common practice to offer a lower price than what you are willing to pay to start the negotiation.

  4. Respect Cultural Norms: Bargaining is expected, but being overly aggressive may be frowned upon. Keep the exchange light and friendly.

  5. Be Prepared to Walk Away: If the price doesn’t match your budget, don’t hesitate to walk away. Often, vendors will call you back with a better offer.

Conclusion

Engaging in simple conversations at a market in China is a rewarding and enriching experience. By using these dialogues and phrases, you’ll boost your confidence, enjoy shopping, and immerse yourself in the local culture. Remember, practice makes perfect, so use these conversations often to become more comfortable with the language. Whether you’re buying fruits, vegetables, clothing, or asking for directions, your efforts will definitely be appreciated by the friendly vendors at the market! Happy shopping!