New here? This is lesson 84 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
Refunds and holds in Traditional Chinese
The umbrella Maya bought on her first day broke almost immediately.
She returns to the shop with Yi-Jun to ask whether she can exchange it, but first she needs to find out what the shop requires.
Learn to ask about exchanges, return rules, receipts, delivery, and warranties. You will also ask the clerk to hold another umbrella while you decide.
Keep the questions short and clear: each one has a different job at the counter.
By the end of this lesson
Ask about an exchange, a return policy, a receipt, a hold, delivery time, and warranty length.
- 這個可以換貨嗎？Can this be exchanged?
- 請問退貨規定是怎麼樣？What's the return policy?
- 發票要留著嗎？Should I keep the receipt?
- 這個幫我先保留一下Please hold this for me.
- 送貨要多久？How long does delivery take?
- 保固多久？How long is the warranty?
Scene — back at the umbrella shop
Maya brings her broken umbrella back to a small shop near Banyan Lane. Yi-Jun comes along while Maya checks whether she kept the receipt from her first day in Taipei.
A different umbrella catches Maya's eye at the counter, but she wants to settle the exchange question before buying anything else.
Learn — questions at the counter
These six lines help you sort out what a shop can do after a purchase. Listen for the difference between exchanging an item and returning it.
You can also ask the clerk to set something aside while you decide.
這個可以換貨嗎？
Can this be exchanged?
When to use it: Ask this when you want another item in place of one you bought.
An exchange gets you another item; it is not the same as getting your money back.
請問退貨規定是怎麼樣？
What's the return policy?
When to use it: Ask this before returning something when you need to know the shop's rules.
The question word stays where the answer would go, near the end of the sentence.
發票要留著嗎？
Should I keep the receipt?
When to use it: Ask whether you need to keep your receipt for a later exchange or return.
The word after “keep” shows that the receipt remains in your possession.
Say it: 著 has a light, neutral tone in this phrase.
這個幫我先保留一下
Please hold this for me.
When to use it: Ask a clerk to set an item aside while you decide.
The word for “first” makes the hold a step before your final decision.
送貨要多久？
How long does delivery take?
When to use it: Ask this when the shop will send an item to you.
保固多久？
How long is the warranty?
When to use it: Ask how long the shop or maker covers problems with an item.
Story — the broken umbrella
Listen as Maya returns to the shop with the umbrella that broke on her first day.
Yi-Jun helps her remember what happened, but Maya asks the clerk the important questions herself.
The receipt determines whether the shop can exchange it.
- Shop clerk歡迎光臨！Welcome in!
Yi-Jun你那把傘第一天就壞了吧？Your umbrella broke on the first day, right?
Maya對啊，第一天就壞了。Yeah, it broke on the first day.- Maya這個可以換貨嗎？Can this be exchanged?
- Shop clerk有發票就可以換喔。You can exchange it if you have the receipt.
- Maya發票要留著嗎？Should I keep the receipt?
- Shop clerk對，換貨要帶發票。Yes, bring the receipt for an exchange.
- Maya請問退貨規定是怎麼樣？What's the return policy?
- Shop clerk七天內可以退，東西要完整。You can return it within seven days if it's intact.
- Yi-Jun那把新傘也不錯欸。That new umbrella looks good too.
- Maya這個幫我先保留一下。Please hold this one for me.
- Shop clerk好喔，還想問什麼？Sure. Anything else you'd like to ask?
- Maya送貨要多久？How long does delivery take?
- Shop clerk大概兩天。About two days.
- Maya保固多久？How long is the warranty?
- Shop clerk一年喔。One year.
Practice — exchange, return, or hold
Work through short counter situations, from a broken purchase to a possible delivery. Choose the question that gets the information Maya actually needs.
Check each answer, then say the whole line aloud before moving on.
0 of 9 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
這個可以換貨嗎？
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
What's the return policy?
請問退貨____是怎麼樣？
What do you say?
What do you say?
You have the receipt and want to know whether to keep it for a later exchange. Ask the clerk.
What do you say?
What do you say?
A second umbrella catches your eye, but you need a few minutes to decide. Ask the clerk to hold it.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Shop clerk says:
Pick the reply
這把傘有保固。
This umbrella has a warranty.
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are working at the shop, and a customer has just come through the door. Welcome them.
Build the line
Build the line
I'll just look first.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Should I keep the receipt?
____要留著嗎？
Say it — ask the shop clerk
You play Maya at the umbrella shop. The clerk can help, but you need to ask one clear question at a time.
Speak each line aloud after its English cue. Listen to the clerk's answer before asking your next question.
- Maya places the broken umbrella on the counter.
- Maya (you)Ask whether the broken umbrella can be exchanged.
Ask whether the broken umbrella can be exchanged.
這個可以換貨嗎？
Can this be exchanged?
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 這個可以換貨嗎？ | Can this be exchanged? | |
| 請問退貨規定是怎麼樣？ | What's the return policy? | |
| 發票要留著嗎？ | Should I keep the receipt? | |
| 這個幫我先保留一下 | Please hold this for me. | |
| 送貨要多久？ | How long does delivery take? | |
| 保固多久？ | How long is the warranty? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Review today's shop questions in Yak Cards before your next purchase.
Practice choosing between an exchange, a return, and a hold so each request comes easily.
Open Yak Cards