China has leapfrogged into a nearly cashless society — mobile payments rule. This lesson covers shopping vocabulary, bargaining, digital payments, and navigating China's vibrant marketplace culture.
Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 人民币 | rénmínbì (RMB) | Chinese yuan | Official currency name |
| 元 | yuán | yuan (formal unit) | Written/formal |
| 块 | kuài | yuan (spoken unit) | Everyday speech — like "bucks" |
| 角 / 毛 | jiǎo / máo | 1/10 of a yuan | 角 is formal, 毛 is spoken |
| 分 | fēn | 1/100 of a yuan | Rarely used now |
| 多少钱？ | duōshao qián? | How much (money)? | The essential shopping phrase |
| 太贵了 | tài guì le | Too expensive | Start of bargaining! |
| 便宜一点 | piányi yìdiǎn | A little cheaper | Requesting a lower price |
💡 Cultural Insight: China is essentially cashless. Almost everyone pays via 微信支付 (WeChat Pay) or 支付宝 (Alipay) — from street food vendors to luxury shops. You scan a QR code, enter the amount, done. As a tourist, setting up these apps can be tricky without a Chinese bank account, but newer policies are making it easier for international visitors.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 买 | mǎi | buy |
| 卖 | mài | sell |
| 商店 | shāngdiàn | shop/store |
| 超市 | chāoshì | supermarket |
| 商场 | shāngchǎng | shopping mall |
| 市场 | shìchǎng | market |
| 网购 | wǎnggòu | online shopping |
| 衣服 | yīfu | clothes |
| 鞋子 | xiézi | shoes |
| 大/小/中 | dà / xiǎo / zhōng | large / small / medium |
| 打折 | dǎ zhé | discount |
| 收据 | shōujù | receipt |
买 (mǎi, 3rd tone) = BUY · 卖 (mài, 4th tone) = SELL
One tone difference, opposite meanings! Remember: the 3rd tone (dip-rise) is for buying — you dip into your wallet!
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 微信支付 | Wēixìn zhīfù | WeChat Pay |
| 支付宝 | Zhīfùbǎo | Alipay |
| 扫码 | sǎo mǎ | scan QR code |
| 现金 | xiànjīn | cash |
| 信用卡 | xìnyòngkǎ | credit card |
| 可以扫码吗？ | kěyǐ sǎo mǎ ma? | Can I scan to pay? |
| 收现金吗？ | shōu xiànjīn ma? | Do you accept cash? |
Bargaining is expected at markets, street vendors, and small shops — but not at malls, supermarkets, or chain stores.
You: 这个多少钱？(Zhège duōshao qián?) — How much is this?
Seller: 一百块。(Yì bǎi kuài.) — 100 yuan.
You: 太贵了！便宜一点吧。(Tài guì le! Piányi yìdiǎn ba.) — Too expensive! Cheaper please.
Seller: 最低八十。(Zuìdī bāshí.) — 80 minimum.
You: 五十块行不行？(Wǔshí kuài xíng bu xíng?) — How about 50?
Seller: 不行不行。七十吧。(Bù xíng bù xíng. Qīshí ba.) — No way. 70.
You: 好吧，六十块，成交！(Hǎo ba, liùshí kuài, chéngjiāo!) — OK, 60 yuan, deal!
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 淘宝 | Táobǎo | Taobao (like Amazon marketplace) |
| 京东 | Jīngdōng | JD.com (like Amazon direct) |
| 拼多多 | Pīnduōduō | Pinduoduo (group-buy deals) |
| 快递 | kuàidì | express delivery |
| 包邮 | bāo yóu | free shipping |
| 双十一 | shuāng shíyī | Singles' Day (Nov 11 — world's biggest shopping day) |
💡 Cultural Insight: 双十一 (Singles' Day, November 11) is the world's biggest online shopping event — dwarfing Black Friday. In 2023, Chinese consumers spent over $150 billion during the festival. The date 11/11 was chosen because "1" represents a single person, and the holiday started as an "anti-Valentine's Day" before Alibaba turned it into a shopping extravaganza.
1. What's the spoken/informal word for "yuan"?
2. What are the two dominant mobile payment platforms in China?
3. The difference between 买 (mǎi) and 卖 (mài) is:
Currency: 元/块 (yuan/kuai), 角/毛 (jiao/mao = dime), 分 (fen = cent).
Cashless society: WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate; cash is increasingly rare.
Bargaining is expected at markets but not at malls or chain stores.
买 vs 卖: Buy (3rd tone) vs Sell (4th tone) — one tone changes everything!
Online shopping: Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo. Singles' Day is the world's biggest sale.