Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 37 of 240

New here? This is lesson 37 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

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Looking for something in Traditional Chinese

At a small shop near Banyan Lane, you need a plug adapter and an umbrella. Tell the clerk what you are looking for, then ask whether the shop has it.

Ask which counter to check, browse without pressure, and choose an item. A-Li points one way while the clerk points another; his soy milk remains unfinished.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you are looking for, ask whether a shop has it, and choose an item.

  • 我在找___I'm looking for ___.
  • 請問有___嗎？Do you have ___?
  • 這個有___嗎？Does this have ___?
  • 在哪個櫃位？Which counter is it at?
  • 我先看看I'll just look first.
  • 那我要這個Then I'll take this one.

Scene — a quick shop stop

Maya stops at a neighborhood shop to look for a plug adapter and an umbrella. The clerk points her toward one counter, while A-Li points in a different direction.

Maya asks what the shop has and takes a moment to look. A-Li's soy milk is still unfinished; the little disagreement is only about where the umbrellas are.

Maya searches a neighborhood shop for a plug adapter and an umbrella while the clerk and A-Li point in different directions.

Learn — finding what you need

Learn simple lines for finding something in a shop, asking if it is available, and choosing an item.

Listen to the whole phrase, then try saying it aloud. You can use the same questions for many everyday items.

  1. Maya tells the shop clerk what she is looking for, gesturing toward plug adapters and umbrellas.

    我在找___

    I'm looking for ___.

    When to use it: Tell a shop clerk what you want to find.

    Learn it as one piece.

    Say it: 找 has a third tone; its pitch dips low.

  2. Maya asks the clerk whether the shop has an umbrella while pointing to the umbrella rack.

    請問有___嗎？

    Do you have ___?

    When to use it: Ask whether the shop has a particular item.

    Learn it as one piece.

  3. Maya examines a plug adapter and asks the clerk whether it has the feature she needs.

    這個有___嗎？

    Does this have ___?

    When to use it: Ask about a feature of an item you are looking at.

    Learn it as one piece.

  4. Maya asks which counter has the umbrellas as the clerk and A-Li point in opposite directions.

    在哪個櫃位？

    Which counter is it at?

    When to use it: Ask which counter has the item you need.

    Learn it as one piece.

  5. Maya tells the clerk she will look first as she browses the shop display at her own pace.

    我先看看

    I'll just look first.

    When to use it: Say this when you want to browse before deciding.

    Learn it as one piece.

  6. Maya chooses a plug adapter and presents it to the clerk as her selection.

    那我要這個

    Then I'll take this one.

    When to use it: Choose an item after looking at it.

    Learn it as one piece.

Story — two different directions

Maya goes into a neighborhood shop looking for two useful things. The clerk points her toward the umbrellas, but A-Li points the other way.

Maya asks about an item, looks around, and makes her choice. A-Li still has not finished his soy milk.

  1. Clerk歡迎光臨！Welcome in!
  2. Maya您好，我在找轉接頭。Hello. I'm looking for a plug adapter.
  3. Maya請問有雨傘嗎？Do you have an umbrella?
  4. Clerk有，在右邊。Yes, on the right.
  5. A-Li在左邊。They're on the left.
  6. Maya在哪個櫃位？Which counter is it at?
  7. Clerk在右邊。On the right.
  8. Maya這個有保固嗎？Does this have a warranty?
  9. Clerk有喔。Yes, it does.
  10. Maya我先看看。I'll just look first.
  11. Clerk好喔。Sure.
  12. Maya那我要這個。Then I'll take this one.

Practice — ask and browse

Try nine quick exercises to ask for an item, find its counter, and decide what to take.

Listen closely, choose the line that fits, and build or complete a few phrases. The shop directions may not agree.

0 of 9 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我在找___

  2. What do you say?

    Ask the shop clerk whether the shop has an umbrella.

  3. Build the line

    Which counter is it at?

    ？

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    I'll just look first.

    我____看看

  5. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    我在找___Drop the English here
    在哪個櫃位？Drop the English here
    我先看看Drop the English here
    那我要這個Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Traditional Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  6. What did you hear?

  7. Pick the reply

    Clerk says:

    要這個嗎？

    Do you want this one?

    And you reply with:

  8. What does it mean?

    歡迎光臨

  9. What does it mean?

    您好

Say it — find your item

You are Maya, shopping near Banyan Lane. Tell the clerk what you need, ask about an item, and choose what to take.

Listen to each cue and answer out loud. A-Li may point you in the wrong direction, but you can still ask the clerk.

  1. Maya walks into the shop and sees the clerk at the counter.
  2. Clerk歡迎光臨！Welcome in!
  3. Maya (you)Say that you are looking for a plug adapter.

    我在找___

    I'm looking for ___.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
我在找___I'm looking for ___.
請問有___嗎？Do you have ___?
這個有___嗎？Does this have ___?
在哪個櫃位？Which counter is it at?
我先看看I'll just look first.
那我要這個Then I'll take this one.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's shop phrases are in Yak Cards with more useful lines for everyday errands.

Review a few cards each day so useful shop questions come to mind quickly.

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