In this post we will look at Chinese grocery shopping vocabulary and phrases.
Table of Contents
Vocabulary
General shopping vocabulary
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| aisle |
|
| aisle |
|
| alcohol department |
|
| canned goods |
|
| cash |
|
| cheque (check) |
|
| credit card |
|
| elevator |
|
| entrance |
|
| escalator |
|
| exit |
|
| frozen food section |
|
| line up |
|
| manager |
|
| meat |
|
| meat department |
|
| no stock |
|
| plastic bag |
|
| produce section |
|
| return (an item) |
|
| self-checkout |
|
| shop assistant |
|
| store |
|
| supermarket |
|
| trolley (literally hand-pushed cart) |
|
| vegetables |
|
Phrases
General shopping phrases
| Phrase | Breakdown |
|---|---|
| <something> is located where? |
e.g. 农产品区在那儿 Where is the produce section? Breakdown: – located – where |
| this is <something> |
e.g. 这是农产品区 This is the produce section? Breakdown: – this – is |
| Which aisle are the canned goods at? |
– which – <classifier> – aisle – is – put – canned goods (foodstuff) – <particle> |
| Can I help you |
– I – can – help – you – <question> |
| … is located in which aisle? |
– is – located – which – one – aisle |
| Do you have a loyalty card? |
– you – have – literally: accumulated points card – <question> – |
| Do you need help packing? |
– need – help – fill the bag – <question> |
| Can you please give me a bag? |
– please – give – bag – can – <question> |
| Can you give me another bag? |
– can – more – give – me – one unit (of) – bag – <question> |
| Eight items or less |
– less than – eight – <classifier for things> – goods |
| Use by |
– use – period |
| Best before |
|
| Basket Only |
– only – limit – basket |
| Caution, wet floor |
– be careful – floor – slippery |
| Please line up! |
– please – line up |
| Excuse me , you overcharged me . |
– sorry (set phrase) – you – overcharged – <completed action> – my – money |
| I’d like to return this |
– I – want – return – this |
| I’ve lost my receipt |
– I – <with regards to> – receipt – lost – |
| Please call your manager |
– please – you – call – manager – come |
| Where is the escalator? |
– escalator – located – where |
| Where is the elevator? |
– elevator – located – where |
| where can I get a trolley? |
– where – can – get hold of – trolley |
| how about bringing me bring me shopping? |
– bring – me – go – shopping – <particle indicating a suggestion> |