How to Bargain at a Market in Chinese
HSK 1-2
Markets are where Mandarin gets lively. Vendors call out prices, customers push back, and a bit of friendly haggling is part of the fun, especially at fruit stalls, wet markets and souvenir markets.
This page gives you the phrases to ask prices, understand 斤 (the unit most produce is sold by), say something's too expensive, ask for a discount for buying more and close the deal. The prices in the dialogue are just examples.
Read the phrases out loud, then practice this conversation with an AI partner that corrects you, so you can bargain with a smile instead of a calculator.
Key phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 老板，这个多少钱？ | Lǎobǎn, zhège duōshao qián? | Excuse me, how much is this? 老板 (boss) is the usual way to address a vendor. |
| 苹果怎么卖？ | Píngguǒ zěnme mài? | How much are the apples? 怎么卖 is the typical way to ask about produce prices. |
| 多少钱一斤？ | Duōshao qián yì jīn? | How much per jin? 1 斤 = 500 grams. |
| 能尝一下吗？ | Néng cháng yíxià ma? | Can I try one? |
| 甜不甜？ | Tián bu tián? | Is it sweet? |
| 太贵了！ | Tài guì le! | That's too expensive! |
| 便宜点儿吧。 | Piányi diǎnr ba. | Make it a bit cheaper. |
| 能便宜点儿吗？ | Néng piányi diǎnr ma? | Can you go a little lower? |
| 我买两个，便宜点儿？ | Wǒ mǎi liǎng ge, piányi diǎnr? | If I buy two, can you give me a better price? |
| 最低多少？ | Zuì dī duōshao? | What's your lowest price? |
| 那边那家更便宜。 | Nà biān nà jiā gèng piányi. | That stall over there is cheaper. Use with a smile. |
| 我再看看。 | Wǒ zài kànkan. | I'll look around a bit more. A polite way to walk away. Sometimes the price drops. |
| 给我来两斤。 | Gěi wǒ lái liǎng jīn. | I'll take two jin. |
| 半斤就够了。 | Bàn jīn jiù gòu le. | Half a jin is enough. |
| 可以抹个零吗？ | Kěyǐ mǒ ge líng ma? | Can you round it down? Asking to drop the small change at the end. |
| 行，就这个价。 | Xíng, jiù zhège jià. | OK, deal. |
| 扫码还是现金？ | Sǎomǎ háishi xiànjīn? | QR code or cash? What a vendor may ask. |
Sample dialogue
You: 老板，这个桃子怎么卖？
Lǎobǎn, zhège táozi zěnme mài?
Excuse me, how much are these peaches?
Vendor: 十二块一斤。
Shí'èr kuài yì jīn.
Twelve yuan per jin.
You: 这么贵啊！便宜点儿吧。
Zhème guì a! Piányi diǎnr ba.
That's pricey! Can you make it cheaper?
Vendor: 这是今天刚到的，很甜。
Zhè shì jīntiān gāng dào de, hěn tián.
They just came in today. Very sweet.
You: 能尝一个吗？
Néng cháng yí ge ma?
Can I try one?
Vendor: 尝吧。
Cháng ba.
Go ahead.
You: 还不错。我买三斤，十块一斤行不行？
Hái búcuò. Wǒ mǎi sān jīn, shí kuài yì jīn xíng bu xíng?
Not bad. If I buy three jin, how about ten yuan per jin?
Vendor: 十块太低了，十一吧。
Shí kuài tài dī le, shíyī ba.
Ten is too low. Make it eleven.
You: 行，三斤三十三，算三十吧？
Xíng, sān jīn sānshísān, suàn sānshí ba?
OK. Three jin is thirty-three. Call it thirty?
Vendor: 好好好，三十就三十。扫这儿。
Hǎo hǎo hǎo, sānshí jiù sānshí. Sǎo zhèr.
Fine, fine, thirty it is. Scan here.
Tips
- Bargaining is normal at markets, street stalls and souvenir shops, but not in supermarkets, chain stores or malls, where prices are fixed.
- Keep it friendly. A smile and a joke usually work better than a hard push.
- Produce is sold by the 斤 (500 g), not the kilo. 一公斤 (one kilogram) is two 斤.
- Asking for a better price when you buy more (我买两个……) is one of the most natural ways to get a discount.
- In everyday speech, 块 (kuài) is used for yuan, and 毛 (máo) for tenths of a yuan.
Common mistakes
✗ 多少钱这个？
✓ 这个多少钱？
In Chinese the thing comes first, then the question: 这个多少钱.
✗ 太贵！
✓ 太贵了！
太 + adjective normally ends with 了 in speech. Without it, it sounds clipped.
✗ 能不能便宜？
✓ 能便宜点儿吗？
Add 点儿 (a bit) to ask for 'a little cheaper'. Without it the request sounds abrupt.
FAQ
Is bargaining expected everywhere in China?
No. It's common at markets, stalls and souvenir shops, but supermarkets, chain stores and malls have fixed prices.
What is a 斤?
斤 (jīn) is a traditional unit of weight equal to 500 grams. Fruit, vegetables and meat at markets are usually priced per 斤.
How do I pay at a market in China?
Most vendors display a QR code for Alipay or WeChat Pay. Some still take cash, so it can help to carry a little as a backup.
Practice this with an AI partner