New here? This is lesson 51 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.
Colours and sizes in Simplified Chinese
At a small clothing shop on Banyan Lane, Maya compares raincoats by colour and size. She hopes to find a blue one, but the right fit may change her plans.
Learn two colour words, say when an item is too big or too small, ask about other colours, and describe a good fit.
A-Li is nearby with his unfinished drink and many pockets. His pockets match the raincoat Maya takes home.
By the end of this lesson
Name two colours, describe an item as too big or too small, ask about other colours, and say when something fits just right.
- 红色This is the colour red.
- 蓝色This is the colour blue.
- 这个太大了This is too big.
- 这个太小了This is too small.
- 有别的颜色吗？Do you have any other colours?
- 刚刚好This is just the right size.
Scene — a raincoat shop
Maya visits a small clothing shop on Banyan Lane to buy a raincoat. She hopes to choose blue, but the first coats she tries do not fit.
A-Li waits nearby with his unfinished drink. His coat has many pockets, and he points out that they match the red raincoat Maya eventually takes home.
Learn — colours and fit
Study two colour words and four useful comments for choosing a raincoat. Each expression helps you describe what you see in a shop.
Listen once, then say each line aloud before moving on to the practice.
红色
This is the colour red.
When to use it: Name this colour when choosing or describing an item.
Learn this colour word as one piece.
蓝色
This is the colour blue.
When to use it: Name this colour when choosing or describing an item.
Learn this colour word as one piece.
这个太大了
This is too big.
When to use it: Say this when an item is bigger than you want.
Learn this whole expression as one piece.
这个太小了
This is too small.
When to use it: Say this when an item is smaller than you want.
Learn this whole expression as one piece.
有别的颜色吗？
Do you have any other colours?
When to use it: Ask a shopkeeper whether other colours are available.
Learn this whole question as one piece.
刚刚好
This is just the right size.
When to use it: Say this when something fits just right.
Learn this whole expression as one piece.
Story — choosing a raincoat
Listen as Maya shops for a raincoat. She checks colours and sizes, while A-Li's many pockets make an unexpected case for red.
Maya leaves with a coat that fits, although blue was the colour she hoped to buy. Their shop conversation stays simple and everyday.
- Shop clerk欢迎光临！Welcome in!
Maya我先看看。I'll look first.- Shop clerk红色。Red.
- Maya这个太大了。This is too big.
- Maya有别的颜色吗？Do you have any other colours?
- Shop clerk蓝色。Blue.
- Maya这个太小了。This is too small.
- Shop clerk这件红色的呢？How about this red one?
- Maya刚刚好。Just right.
A-Li我的口袋也是红色的。My pockets are red too.- Maya谢谢。Thank you.
Practice — describe what you see
Try ten short activities about colours and sizes. Choose useful shop lines, build a sentence, and fill in a missing word.
Check each explanation, then say the correct line aloud before continuing.
0 of 10 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
红色
What do you say?
What do you say?
The shopkeeper asks which colour you mean. Name blue.
Build the line
Build the line
This is too big.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
This is too small.
这个太____了
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are shopping for a raincoat and want to know if another colour is available.
Pick the reply
Shop clerk says:
Pick the reply
这件不大也不小。
This one is neither too big nor too small.
And you reply with:
Match the pairs
Simplified Chinese
红色Drop the English here蓝色Drop the English here我先看看Drop the English here谢谢Drop the English hereEnglish
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are browsing but are not ready to choose. Tell the shopkeeper you will look first.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The shopkeeper has helped you choose a raincoat. Thank them.
Say it — shop for a raincoat
Take Maya's part in a short raincoat-shop conversation. Ask about colours, test the sizes, and tell the clerk when an item fits.
Listen to each shopkeeper line, then speak Maya's reply aloud. Aim for clear, relaxed Taiwan Mandarin.
- Maya is choosing a raincoat at a neighbourhood shop.
- Shop clerk这是红色的。This one is red.
- Maya (you)Ask whether there are other colours.
Ask whether there are other colours.
有别的颜色吗？
Do you have any other colours?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Simplified Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 红色 | This is the colour red. | |
| 蓝色 | This is the colour blue. | |
| 这个太大了 | This is too big. | |
| 这个太小了 | This is too small. | |
| 有别的颜色吗？ | Do you have any other colours? | |
| 刚刚好 | This is just the right size. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Today's colour and size lines are in Yak Cards with more useful expressions for shopping.
Review a few shopping cards each day so these descriptions come easily.
Open Yak Cards