Shops and markets, prices and discounts, trying on and paying.
Buying and selling differ only in the tone: 买dips卖falls Discounts are the second trap, because the number says what you pay rather than what is taken off: 打八折 means you pay eighty per cent. In a market a price can often be talked down; in a shopping centre it usually cannot.
The words
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Verb (21)
降价to reduce the price; to go down in priceVerb2
冬天的衣服都降价了。All the winter clothes have been reduced.
涨价to go up in priceVerb2
最近水果涨价了。Fruit has gone up in price lately.
Read zhǎng, to rise.
送货to deliver (goods)Verb2
这家超市可以送货上门。This supermarket can deliver to your door.
卖to sellVerb2
这儿卖手机吗？Do they sell mobile phones here?
Only the tone tells it from 买, to buy.
打折to give a discountVerb2
这些衣服都打八折。All these clothes are twenty per cent off.
Separable, with the number inside, and the number is what you pay: eight tenths of the price.
试to try; to try onVerb2
这双鞋我可以试一下吗？Can I try these shoes on?
换to change; to exchangeVerb2
这件太小了，能换一件大的吗？This one is too small. Can I change it for a bigger one?
付钱to payVerb2
我去那边付钱。I will go and pay over there.
结账to pay the bill; to settle upVerb2
我们在哪儿结账？Where do we pay?
讲价to bargainVerb2
在商场里一般不能讲价。In shopping centres you usually cannot bargain.
购物to shop; shoppingVerb2
她很喜欢购物。She loves shopping.
More formal than 买东西, and the word on signs.
逛街to go round the shopsVerb2
周末我常常和朋友逛街。At weekends I often go round the shops with friends.
开门to open (for business); to open the doorVerb2
超市几点开门？What time does the supermarket open?
关门to close (for business); to shut the doorVerb2
这家店晚上十点关门。This shop closes at ten in the evening.
收to accept; to receiveVerb2
你们收现金吗？Do you take cash?
选to choose; to pickVerb2
颜色太多了，我不知道选哪个。There are too many colours. I do not know which to choose.
卖完to be sold outVerb2
对不起，这种已经卖完了。Sorry, this kind is sold out.
营业to be open for businessVerb2
今天商店正常营业。The shops are open as usual today.
The word on doors and signs: 营业时间, opening hours.
称to weighVerb2
老板，帮我称一下。Could you weigh this for me, please?
At a market stall the seller is addressed as 老板, boss.
过期to be past its date; to expireVerb2
这瓶牛奶过期了。This milk is past its date.
包装to wrap; packagingVerb2
这个礼物能帮我包装一下吗？Could you gift-wrap this present for me?
Noun (16)
商场shopping centre; department storeNoun2
周末商场里人特别多。The shopping centre is very crowded at weekends.
超市supermarketNoun2
我去超市买点儿水果。I am going to the supermarket to buy some fruit.
收银台checkout; tillNoun2
收银台前面排着很长的队。There is a long queue at the checkout.
小票receipt (from a till)Noun2
请拿好小票，换东西的时候要用。Please keep your receipt; you will need it to exchange anything.
服务员shop assistant; waiter; attendantNoun2
服务员，这个有大号的吗？Excuse me, do you have this in a large?
Also how a waiter or an assistant is called over.
顾客customerNoun2
商店里顾客不多。There are not many customers in the shop.
购物袋shopping bagNoun2
去超市别忘了带购物袋。Don't forget to take a shopping bag to the supermarket.
商品goods; merchandiseNoun2
这些商品都是新到的。These goods have all just come in.
价钱priceNoun2
价钱太高了，便宜点儿吧。That is too expensive. Can you make it a bit cheaper?
