4 · 41 words

Shopping online, and what comes after

Orders, deliveries, returns, receipts and getting a good deal.

Buying things in China happens on a phone at least as often as in a shop, and the words have followed. A customer 下单(xiàdān) to place an order, pays by 扫码(sǎomǎ), waits for the 快递(kuàidì), and if the goods disappoint, asks to 退货(tuìhuò) and gets a 退款(tuìkuǎn). Notice how many of these are a verb and its object fused into one word: 退(tuì), to give back, with goods, with money, with a ticket.

The words

Verb (15)

网购(wǎnggòu)to shop onlineVerb4

现在(xiànzài)我(wǒ)买(mǎi)衣服(yīfu)基本(jīběn)上(shàng)都(dōu)是(shì)网购(wǎnggòu)。These days I buy almost all my clothes online.

购买(gòumǎi)to purchase, to buyVerb4

购买(gòumǎi)机票(jīpiào)的(de)时候(shíhou)要(yào)填(tián)护照(hùzhào)号码(hàomǎ)。When buying a plane ticket you have to enter your passport number.

The written word for 买(mǎi).

下单(xiàdān)to place an orderVerb4

今天(jīntiān)下单(xiàdān)，明天(míngtiān)就(jiù)能(néng)收到(shōudào)。Order today and you’ll have it tomorrow.

付款(fùkuǎn)to payVerb4

请(qǐng)在(zài)三十(sānshí)分钟(fēnzhōng)内(nèi)付款(fùkuǎn)，不然(bùrán)订单(dìngdān)会(huì)被(bèi)取消(qǔxiāo)。Please pay within thirty minutes, or the order will be cancelled.

扫码(sǎomǎ)to scan a codeVerb4

扫码(sǎomǎ)付款(fùkuǎn)又(yòu)快(kuài)又(yòu)方便(fāngbiàn)。Paying by scanning a code is quick and convenient.

签收(qiānshōu)to sign for (a delivery)Verb4

包裹(bāoguǒ)显示(xiǎnshì)已经(yǐjīng)签收(qiānshōu)了(le)，可是(kěshì)我(wǒ)没(méi)收到(shōudào)。The parcel shows as signed for, but I never got it.

包邮(bāoyóu)to include free postageVerb4

买满(mǎimǎn)一百(yìbǎi)块(kuài)包邮(bāoyóu)。Postage is free on orders over a hundred yuan.

退货(tuìhuò)to return goodsVerb4

鞋(xié)太(tài)小(xiǎo)了(le)，我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)退货(tuìhuò)。The shoes are too small — I want to send them back.

退款(tuìkuǎn)to refund; refundVerb4

商家(shāngjiā)答应(dāying)三(sān)天(tiān)内(nèi)给(gěi)我(wǒ)退款(tuìkuǎn)。The seller promised to refund me within three days.

换货(huànhuò)to exchange goodsVerb4

衣服(yīfu)大(dà)了(le)，我(wǒ)不(bù)想(xiǎng)退(tuì)，只(zhǐ)想(xiǎng)换货(huànhuò)。The clothes are too big; I don’t want my money back, just to exchange them.

收货(shōuhuò)to take delivery (of goods)Verb4

收货(shōuhuò)的(de)时候(shíhou)最(zuì)好(hǎo)当面(dāngmiàn)打开(dǎkāi)检查(jiǎnchá)一下(yíxià)。When you take delivery, it’s best to open the parcel and check it there and then.

保修(bǎoxiū)to guarantee (repairs); guaranteeVerb4

这(zhè)台(tái)洗衣机(xǐyījī)保修(bǎoxiū)两(liǎng)年(nián)。This washing machine has a two-year guarantee.

预售(yùshòu)to sell in advance; pre-orderVerb4

这(zhè)本(běn)新(xīn)书(shū)现在(xiànzài)开始(kāishǐ)预售(yùshòu)，下(xià)个(ge)月(yuè)发货(fāhuò)。Pre-orders for this new book open now; it ships next month.

缺货(quēhuò)to be out of stockVerb4

你(nǐ)要(yào)的(de)颜色(yánsè)现在(xiànzài)缺货(quēhuò)，下(xià)周(zhōu)才(cái)有(yǒu)。The colour you want is out of stock; it won’t be back until next week.

抢购(qiǎnggòu)to rush to buyVerb4

下(xià)大(dà)雪(xuě)以前(yǐqián)，大家(dàjiā)都(dōu)去(qù)超市(chāoshì)抢购(qiǎnggòu)吃(chī)的(de)。Before the heavy snow, everyone rushed to the supermarket to stock up on food.

Noun (25)

收件人(shōujiànrén)recipient, addresseeNoun4

寄(jì)快递(kuàidì)的(de)时候(shíhou)要(yào)写(xiě)清楚(qīngchu)收件人(shōujiànrén)的(de)电话(diànhuà)。When sending a parcel, write the recipient’s phone number clearly.

实体店(shítǐdiàn)bricks-and-mortar shopNoun4

我(wǒ)喜欢(xǐhuan)先(xiān)去(qù)实体店(shítǐdiàn)试(shì)衣服(yīfu)，再(zài)在(zài)网上(wǎngshàng)买(mǎi)。I like to try clothes on in a real shop first and then buy online.

售价(shòujià)selling priceNoun4

这(zhè)台(tái)电脑(diànnǎo)的(de)售价(shòujià)比(bǐ)去年(qùnián)低(dī)了(le)不少(bùshǎo)。This computer sells for quite a bit less than it did last year.

快递(kuàidì)courier, express delivery; parcelNoun4

我(wǒ)的(de)快递(kuàidì)到(dào)了(le)，我(wǒ)下(xià)楼(lóu)去(qù)拿(ná)一下(yíxià)。My parcel has arrived — I’m going downstairs to get it.

客服(kèfú)customer serviceNoun4

东西(dōngxi)有(yǒu)问题(wèntí)可以(kěyǐ)找(zhǎo)客服(kèfú)。If there is something wrong with the goods, you can contact customer service.

包裹(bāoguǒ)parcelNoun4

这(zhè)个(ge)包裹(bāoguǒ)是(shì)寄(jì)给(gěi)你(nǐ)的(de)。This parcel is addressed to you.

性价比(xìngjiàbǐ)value for moneyNoun4

这(zhè)款(kuǎn)手机(shǒujī)性价比(xìngjiàbǐ)很(hěn)高(gāo)。This phone is very good value for money.

Literally the ratio of quality to price, so it is 高(gāo) or 低(dī).

运费(yùnfèi)shipping cost, postageNoun4

退货(tuìhuò)的(de)运费(yùnfèi)由(yóu)谁(shéi)出(chū)？Who pays the postage when goods are returned?

发票(fāpiào)official receipt, invoiceNoun4

买(mǎi)电脑(diànnǎo)的(de)时候(shíhou)记得(jìde)要(yào)发票(fāpiào)。Remember to ask for an official receipt when you buy a computer.

An official tax receipt, needed for expenses and guarantees; a till receipt is 小票(xiǎopiào).

秒杀(miǎoshā)flash saleNoun4

晚上(wǎnshang)八(bā)点(diǎn)有(yǒu)秒杀(miǎoshā)，东西(dōngxi)几(jǐ)秒钟(miǎozhōng)就(jiù)卖光(màiguāng)了(le)。There’s a flash sale at eight tonight; things sell out in seconds.

售后(shòuhòu)after-sales (service)Noun4

这(zhè)个(ge)牌子(páizi)的(de)售后(shòuhòu)服务(fúwù)做(zuò)得(de)很(hěn)好(hǎo)。This brand’s after-sales service is very good.

保质期(bǎozhìqī)shelf life; best-before dateNoun4

买(mǎi)牛奶(niúnǎi)的(de)时候(shíhou)要(yào)看(kàn)一下(yíxià)保质期(bǎozhìqī)。When you buy milk, check the best-before date.

优惠(yōuhuì)discount, special offer; favourableNoun4

学生(xuésheng)买(mǎi)票(piào)有(yǒu)优惠(yōuhuì)。Students get a discount on tickets.

优惠券(yōuhuìquàn)coupon, voucherNoun4

用(yòng)这(zhè)张(zhāng)优惠券(yōuhuìquàn)可以(kěyǐ)便宜(piányi)二十(èrshí)块(kuài)。With this voucher you get twenty yuan off.

促销(cùxiāo)sales promotion; to promote salesNoun4

超市(chāoshì)正在(zhèngzài)搞(gǎo)促销(cùxiāo)，水果(shuǐguǒ)买(mǎi)一(yī)送(sòng)一(yī)。The supermarket has a promotion on: fruit is buy one, get one free.

原价(yuánjià)original priceNoun4

这(zhè)件(jiàn)大衣(dàyī)原价(yuánjià)一千(yìqiān)，现在(xiànzài)打(dǎ)五(wǔ)折(zhé)。This coat was originally a thousand yuan; now it’s half price.

赠品(zèngpǐn)free giftNoun4

买(mǎi)这(zhè)个(ge)手机(shǒujī)有(yǒu)赠品(zèngpǐn)，送(sòng)一(yí)副(fù)耳机(ěrjī)。This phone comes with a free gift — a pair of headphones.

积分(jīfēn)loyalty pointsNoun4

买(mǎi)东西(dōngxi)能(néng)得到(dédào)积分(jīfēn)，积分(jīfēn)可以(kěyǐ)换(huàn)礼物(lǐwù)。Shopping earns you points, and the points can be exchanged for gifts.

会员(huìyuán)memberNoun4

办(bàn)一(yì)张(zhāng)会员卡(huìyuánkǎ)，每(měi)次(cì)都(dōu)能(néng)打(dǎ)九(jiǔ)折(zhé)。With a membership card you get ten per cent off every time.

商家(shāngjiā)seller, merchantNoun4

我(wǒ)给(gěi)商家(shāngjiā)发(fā)了(le)消息(xiāoxi)，他们(tāmen)还(hái)没(méi)回(huí)。I sent the seller a message, but they haven’t replied yet.

店铺(diànpù)shop, storeNoun4

这(zhè)条(tiáo)街(jiē)上(shàng)的(de)店铺(diànpù)晚上(wǎnshang)十(shí)点(diǎn)才(cái)关门(guānmén)。The shops on this street don’t close until ten at night.

正品(zhèngpǐn)genuine productNoun4

这(zhè)家(jiā)店(diàn)保证(bǎozhèng)卖(mài)的(de)都(dōu)是(shì)正品(zhèngpǐn)。This shop guarantees that everything it sells is genuine.

假货(jiǎhuò)fake goodsNoun4

这么(zhème)便宜(piányi)，很(hěn)可能(kěnéng)是(shì)假货(jiǎhuò)。At that price, it’s very likely a fake.

假(jiǎ) is jiǎ here, “false”; in 放假(fàngjià) it is jià.

好评(hǎopíng)good reviewNoun4

这(zhè)家(jiā)店(diàn)的(de)好评(hǎopíng)很(hěn)多(duō)，应该(yīnggāi)不(bú)会(huì)错(cuò)。This shop has lots of good reviews, so it should be all right.

差评(chàpíng)bad reviewNoun4

东西(dōngxi)质量(zhìliàng)太(tài)差(chà)，我(wǒ)给(gěi)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)差评(chàpíng)。The quality was terrible, so I gave it a bad review.

差(chà) is chà here, “poor”, as in 质量(zhìliàng)差(chà).

Adjective (1)

实惠(shíhuì)good value, economicalAdjective4

这(zhè)家(jiā)饭馆(fànguǎn)的(de)菜(cài)又(yòu)好吃(hǎochī)又(yòu)实惠(shíhuì)。The food at this restaurant is tasty and good value.

This list belongs to Shopping, clothes and money — seven lists and 282 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 41 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.