Learn Chinese shopping vocabulary, colors, sizes, and price negotiation. Master essential shopping-related expressions for everyday life.
Practice common shopping scenarios and conversations in Chinese.
Start Practice →In China, bargaining is common in markets and small shops, especially in places like Yiwu Market or tourist areas. However, prices are usually fixed in large department stores and supermarkets.
When bargaining, it's customary to start with a price that's about 30-50% lower than the asking price. The seller will then counteroffer, and you can continue negotiating until you reach a price both parties are happy with.
Chinese people value face (面子 miàn zi), so it's important to be polite when bargaining. Avoid being too aggressive or making fun of the seller's prices.
In recent years, mobile payment apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay have become very popular in China. Many shops, even small ones, accept mobile payments, so it's a good idea to have one of these apps if you're staying in China for a while.