Chinese for Travel
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Unit 8 · Shopping Lesson 45 6 min Premium in the app

Bargaining in Chinese

Ask for a better price, bundle discount, cash discount, tourist discount, or whether the seller can include a small gift. The Silk Market, Beijing. Nothing has a price tag, and the first number you hear is never the real one.

砍价

Key phrases

The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.

  • 这个可以便宜一点吗？

    Zhège kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?

    Can this be a little cheaper?

    • 这个Zhège
    • 可以kěyǐ
    • 便宜piányi
    • 一点yìdiǎn
    • 吗ma

  • 最低多少钱？

    Zuìdī duōshǎo qián?

    What is the lowest price?

    • 最低Zuìdī
    • 多少duōshǎo
    • 钱qián

  • 如果我买两个，可以便宜一点吗？

    Rúguǒ wǒ mǎi liǎng ge, kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?

    If I buy two, can it be cheaper?

    • 如果Rúguǒ
    • 我wǒ
    • 买mǎi
    • 两liǎng
    • 个ge
    • 可以kěyǐ
    • 便宜piányi
    • 一点yìdiǎn
    • 吗ma

  • 我再考虑一下。

    Wǒ zài kǎolǜ yíxià.

    I will think about it.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 再zài
    • 考虑kǎolǜ
    • 一下yíxià

  • 如果可以这个价格，我就买。

    Rúguǒ kěyǐ zhège jiàgé, wǒ jiù mǎi.

    If you can do this price, I will buy it.

    • 如果Rúguǒ
    • 可以kěyǐ
    • 这个zhège
    • 价格jiàgé
    • 我wǒ
    • 就jiù
    • 买mǎi

  • 这个价格我可以接受。

    Zhège jiàgé wǒ kěyǐ jiēshòu.

    I can accept this price.

    • 这个Zhège
    • 价格jiàgé
    • 我wǒ
    • 可以kěyǐ
    • 接受jiēshòu

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 能不能再便宜一点？

    Néng bù néng zài piányi yìdiǎn?

    Could it be a bit cheaper?

  • 这是最低价了吗？

    Zhè shì zuìdī jià le ma?

    Is this the lowest price?

  • 如果一起买，有优惠吗？

    Rúguǒ yìqǐ mǎi, yǒu yōuhuì ma?

    If I buy them together, is there a discount?

  • 买三件有优惠吗？

    Mǎi sān jiàn yǒu yōuhuì ma?

    Is there a discount if I buy three items?

  • 现金付款可以便宜一点吗？

    Xiànjīn fùkuǎn kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?

    Can it be cheaper if I pay in cash?

  • 游客有优惠吗？

    Yóukè yǒu yōuhuì ma?

    Is there a tourist discount?

  • 会员有优惠吗？

    Huìyuán yǒu yōuhuì ma?

    Is there a member discount?

  • 我可以用会员价买吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ yòng huìyuán jià mǎi ma?

    Can I buy it at the member price?

  • 可以送我一个小礼物吗？

    Kěyǐ sòng wǒ yí ge xiǎo lǐwù ma?

    Could you include a small gift for me?

  • 可以包邮吗？

    Kěyǐ bāoyóu ma?

    Can shipping be included for free?

  • 这个价格有点贵。

    Zhège jiàgé yǒu diǎn guì.

    This price is a little expensive.

  • 我先看看别的。

    Wǒ xiān kànkan bié de.

    I will look at other things first.

  • 我可以买这个。

    Wǒ kěyǐ mǎi zhège.

    I can buy this.

  • 那我不要了，谢谢。

    Nà wǒ bú yào le, xièxie.

    Then I will not take it, thank you.

  • 请问这个优惠到什么时候？

    Qǐngwèn zhège yōuhuì dào shénme shíhou?

    Excuse me, until when is this promotion valid?

  • 请帮我写下来。

    Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě xiàlái.

    Please write it down for me.

  • 谢谢您的帮助。

    Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.

    Thank you for your help.

What you’ll hear, and how to answer

Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.

  1. Staff

    这个包，八百！真皮的。

    Zhège bāo, bābǎi! Zhēnpí de.

    This bag, eight hundred! Real leather.

    You

    这个可以便宜一点吗？

    Zhège kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?

    Can this be a little cheaper?

  2. Staff

    最少五百，不能再少了。

    Zuì shǎo wǔbǎi, bù néng zài shǎo le.

    Five hundred at the very least. I can't go lower.

    You

    我再考虑一下。

    Wǒ zài kǎolǜ yíxià.

    I will think about it.

Play the scene

The Silk Market, Beijing. Nothing has a price tag, and the first number you hear is never the real one.

北京·秀水街 · Silk Market, Beijing

  1. Staff

    这个包，八百！真皮的。

    Zhège bāo, bābǎi! Zhēnpí de.

    This bag, eight hundred! Real leather.

  2. You

    这个可以便宜一点吗？

    Zhège kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?

    Can this be a little cheaper?

  3. Staff

    那你说多少？

    Nà nǐ shuō duōshao?

    Well, how much do you say?

  4. You

    最低多少钱？

    Zuìdī duōshǎo qián?

    What is the lowest price?

  5. Staff

    最少五百，不能再少了。

    Zuì shǎo wǔbǎi, bù néng zài shǎo le.

    Five hundred at the very least. I can't go lower.

  6. You

    我先看看别的。

    Wǒ xiān kànkan bié de.

    I will look at other things first.

  7. Staff

    好好好，三百，卖给你。

    Hǎo hǎo hǎo, sānbǎi, mài gěi nǐ.

    All right, all right. Three hundred, it's yours.

  8. You

    这个价格我可以接受。

    Zhège jiàgé wǒ kěyǐ jiēshòu.

    I can accept this price.

Culture tip

Markets and small shops

Bargaining is more common in markets, souvenir shops, and small independent stores.

Which phrase politely declines the item?

Show the answer

那我不要了，谢谢。 — Then I will not take it, thank you.

Go deeper

Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.

Key Terms

便宜一点 A little cheaper. This is a simple and polite way to ask for a lower price.

这个可以便宜一点吗？ Zhège kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma? Can this be a little cheaper?

最低价 The lowest price a seller can offer. This is useful in markets or small shops, but not always appropriate in fixed-price stores.

最低多少钱？ Zuìdī duōshǎo qián? What is the lowest price?

优惠 A discount, special offer, or benefit. It can refer to a sale, bundle discount, member price, or tourist discount.

如果一起买，有优惠吗？ Rúguǒ yìqǐ mǎi, yǒu yōuhuì ma? If I buy them together, is there a discount?

会员价 Member price. Some stores offer a lower price to members or app users.

我可以用会员价买吗？ Wǒ kěyǐ yòng huìyuán jià mǎi ma? Can I buy it at the member price?

小礼物 A small gift or freebie. In some shops, you can ask politely whether a small gift can be included.

可以送我一个小礼物吗？ Kěyǐ sòng wǒ yí ge xiǎo lǐwù ma? Could you include a small gift for me?

包邮 Free shipping. This is useful when buying online or when the store can ship an item to your hotel or address.

可以包邮吗？ Kěyǐ bāoyóu ma? Can shipping be included for free?

Bargaining Flow

Step 1: Ask politely

Start with 这个可以便宜一点吗？ It sounds softer than directly demanding a lower price.

Step 2: Ask for the lowest price

If bargaining is appropriate, ask 最低多少钱？ or 这是最低价了吗？

Step 3: Offer a reason

You can ask for a discount if buying multiple items, paying in cash, or using a tourist/member discount.

Step 4: Accept or decline politely

If the price works, say 这个价格我可以接受. If not, say 我再考虑一下 or 那我不要了，谢谢.

Useful Bargaining Patterns

可以……一点吗？ Use this to make a polite request for a small adjustment.

这个可以便宜一点吗？ Zhège kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma? Can this be a little cheaper?

如果我买……，可以……吗？ Use this to ask for a discount based on buying more items.

如果我买两个，可以便宜一点吗？ Rúguǒ wǒ mǎi liǎng ge, kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma? If I buy two, can it be cheaper?

……有优惠吗？ Use this to ask if a type of customer, payment method, or buying condition gets a discount.

游客有优惠吗？ Yóukè yǒu yōuhuì ma? Is there a tourist discount?

如果可以这个价格，我就买。 Use this to make a conditional offer. It is direct but still polite.

如果可以这个价格，我就买。 Rúguǒ kěyǐ zhège jiàgé, wǒ jiù mǎi. If you can do this price, I will buy it.

Where Bargaining Works Best

Markets and small shops

Bargaining is more common in markets, souvenir shops, and small independent stores.

Malls and brand stores

In malls or brand stores, prices are usually fixed. Ask about official promotions instead of bargaining hard.

Online or delivery orders

For online-style orders, you can ask about free shipping, coupons, or member discounts.

Polite Refusal Tips

Need time to decide

Use 我再考虑一下 if you do not want to decide immediately.

Continue browsing

Use 我先看看别的 when you want to leave the conversation politely and keep browsing.

Do not buy

Use 那我不要了，谢谢. It is clear, polite, and ends the discussion naturally.

Interactive Scenarios

Simple bargaining

  • Traveler这个可以便宜一点吗？

    Zhège kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?

    Can this be a little cheaper?

  • Traveler最低多少钱？

    Zuìdī duōshǎo qián?

    What is the lowest price?

  • Traveler这个价格我可以接受。

    Zhège jiàgé wǒ kěyǐ jiēshòu.

    I can accept this price.

Bundle discount

  • Traveler如果我买两个，可以便宜一点吗？

    Rúguǒ wǒ mǎi liǎng ge, kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?

    If I buy two, can it be cheaper?

  • Traveler如果一起买，有优惠吗？

    Rúguǒ yìqǐ mǎi, yǒu yōuhuì ma?

    If I buy them together, is there a discount?

  • Traveler如果可以这个价格，我就买。

    Rúguǒ kěyǐ zhège jiàgé, wǒ jiù mǎi.

    If you can do this price, I will buy it.

Polite refusal

  • Traveler这个价格有点贵。

    Zhège jiàgé yǒu diǎn guì.

    This price is a little expensive.

  • Traveler我再考虑一下。

    Wǒ zài kǎolǜ yíxià.

    I will think about it.

  • Traveler那我不要了，谢谢。

    Nà wǒ bú yào le, xièxie.

    Then I will not take it, thank you.

Mini Quiz

How do you ask “Can this be a little cheaper?”
  • 这个可以便宜一点吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 这个有我的尺码吗？
  • 这个可以打包吗？
Which phrase asks for the lowest price?
  • 最低多少钱？ ✓ Answer
  • 多少钱一杯？
  • 什么时候会补货？
What do you say to ask if buying together gets a discount?
  • 如果一起买，有优惠吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 如果我买两个，可以退货吗？
  • 如果可以这个价格，我就走。
Which phrase politely declines the item?
  • 那我不要了，谢谢。 ✓ Answer
  • 这个价格我可以接受。
  • 我可以买这个。