Traditional Chinese - Lesson 147 of 152: Shopping Decisions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

可以試穿嗎

Kěyǐ shìchuān ma?

Can I try it on?

Meaning: 可以試穿嗎？ (Kěyǐ shìchuān ma?) means “Can I try it on?”

When to use: Use it for clothes, shoes, hats, and accessories before buying.

Tip: Use 試穿 (shìchuān) for things you wear. For food or drinks, use 試吃 (shìchī) or 試喝 (shìhē), not 試穿 (shìchuān).

這件外套可以試穿嗎？

Zhè jiàn wàitào kěyǐ shìchuān ma?

Can I try on this jacket?

這雙鞋可以試穿嗎？

Zhè shuāng xié kěyǐ shìchuān ma?

Can I try on these shoes?

有別的尺寸嗎

Yǒu bié de chǐcùn ma?

Do you have another size?

Meaning: 有別的尺寸嗎？ (Yǒu bié de chǐcùn ma?) means “Do you have another size?”

When to use: Use it when the size is not right, especially for clothing, shoes, bags, or household items.

這件太小了，有別的尺寸嗎？

Zhè jiàn tài xiǎo le, yǒu bié de chǐcùn ma?

This one is too small. Do you have another size?

不好意思，有別的尺寸嗎？

Bù hǎoyìsi, yǒu bié de chǐcùn ma?

Excuse me, do you have another size?

有別的顏色嗎

Yǒu bié de yánsè ma?

Do you have another color?

Meaning: 有別的顏色嗎？ (Yǒu bié de yánsè ma?) means “Do you have another color?”

When to use: Use it in stores when you like the item but want a different color.

我喜歡這個，有別的顏色嗎？

Wǒ xǐhuān zhège, yǒu bié de yánsè ma?

I like this. Do you have another color?

有別的顏色嗎？我想看黑色。

Yǒu bié de yánsè ma? Wǒ xiǎng kàn hēisè.

Do you have another color? I’d like to see black.

可以退換貨嗎

Kěyǐ tuìhuànhuò ma?

Can this be returned or exchanged?

Meaning: 可以退換貨嗎？ (Kěyǐ tuìhuànhuò ma?) means “Can this be returned or exchanged?”

When to use: Use it before buying clothes, electronics, gifts, or anything you may need to return or exchange.

Tip: 退貨 (tuìhuò) is “return,” 換貨 (huànhuò) is “exchange,” and 退換貨 (tuìhuànhuò) covers both.

請問，可以退換貨嗎？

Qǐngwèn, kěyǐ tuìhuànhuò ma?

May I ask, can this be returned or exchanged?

如果不合，可以退換貨嗎？

Rúguǒ bù hé, kěyǐ tuìhuànhuò ma?

If it doesn’t fit, can it be returned or exchanged?

保固多久

Bǎogù duōjiǔ?

How long is the warranty?

Meaning: 保固多久？ (Bǎogù duōjiǔ?) means “How long is the warranty?”

When to use: Use it for electronics, appliances, luggage, and services.

這個耳機保固多久？

Zhège ěrjī bǎogù duōjiǔ?

How long is the warranty on these headphones?

請問，這台機器保固多久？

Qǐngwèn, zhè tái jīqì bǎogù duōjiǔ?

May I ask, how long is the warranty on this machine?

這個怎麼用

Zhège zěnme yòng?

How do you use this?

Meaning: 這個怎麼用？ (Zhège zěnme yòng?) means “How do you use this?”

When to use: Use it when asking about machines, apps, products, or ticket systems.

不好意思，這個怎麼用？

Bù hǎoyìsi, zhège zěnme yòng?

Excuse me, how do you use this?

這個票機怎麼用？

Zhège piàojī zěnme yòng?

How do you use this ticket machine?

先幫我保留一下。

Xiān bāng wǒ bǎoliú yíxià.

Please hold it for me for now.

Meaning: 先幫我保留一下。 (Xiān bāng wǒ bǎoliú yíxià.) means “Please hold it for me for now.”

When to use: Use it when you want a store, restaurant, clinic, or ticket counter to keep something for you briefly.

Tip: This is polite, but it does not guarantee the store can hold it all day. If timing matters, ask how long they can hold it.

這件先幫我保留一下。

Zhè jiàn xiān bāng wǒ bǎoliú yíxià.

Please hold this one for me for now.

可以先幫我保留一下嗎？

Kěyǐ xiān bāng wǒ bǎoliú yíxià ma?

Could you please hold it for me for now?

我考慮一下

Wǒ kǎolǜ yíxià.

I’ll think it over.

Meaning: 我考慮一下。 (Wǒ kǎolǜ yíxià.) means “I’ll think it over.”

When to use: Use it as a polite way to avoid buying or deciding immediately.

謝謝，我考慮一下。

Xièxie, wǒ kǎolǜ yíxià.

Thanks, I’ll think it over.

這個不錯，我考慮一下。

Zhège búcuò, wǒ kǎolǜ yíxià.

This is pretty good. I’ll think it over.

太大了

Tài dà le.

It’s too big.

Meaning: 太大了。 (Tài dà le.) means “It’s too big.”

When to use: Use it for clothes, portions, rooms, objects, or font sizes.

這件太大了

Zhè jiàn tài dà le.

This one is too big.

這個包包太大了。

Zhège bāobāo tài dà le.

This bag is too big.

太小了

Tài xiǎo le.

It’s too small.

Meaning: 太小了。 (Tài xiǎo le.) means “It’s too small.”

When to use: Use it for clothes, portions, rooms, objects, or font sizes.

這雙鞋太小了

Zhè shuāng xié tài xiǎo le.

These shoes are too small.

這個尺寸太小了。

Zhège chǐcùn tài xiǎo le.

This size is too small.

剛剛好

Gānggāng hǎo.

Just right.

Meaning: 剛剛好。 (Gānggāng hǎo.) means “Just right.”

When to use: Use it for fit, timing, amount, temperature, or difficulty.

這個尺寸剛剛好。

Zhège chǐcùn gānggāng hǎo.

This size is just right.

時間剛剛好

Shíjiān gānggāng hǎo.

The timing is just right.

還可以接受

Hái kěyǐ jiēshòu.

It’s still acceptable.

Meaning: 還可以接受。 (Hái kěyǐ jiēshòu.) means “It’s still acceptable.”

When to use: Use it for a soft evaluation of price, quality, waiting time, or inconvenience.

這個價格還可以接受。

Zhège jiàgé hái kěyǐ jiēshòu.

This price is still acceptable.

等十分鐘還可以接受。

Děng shí fēnzhōng hái kěyǐ jiēshòu.

Waiting ten minutes is still acceptable.

有點趕

Yǒudiǎn gǎn.

It’s a bit rushed.

Meaning: 有點趕。 (Yǒudiǎn gǎn.) means “It’s a bit rushed.”

When to use: Use it for schedules, deadlines, travel plans, or preparation time.

今天買東西有點趕。

Jīntiān mǎi dōngxi yǒudiǎn gǎn.

Shopping today is a bit rushed.

這個行程有點趕。

Zhège xíngchéng yǒudiǎn gǎn.

This schedule is a bit rushed.

Traditional Chinese - Shopping Decisions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

You want to try on a jacket. What do you say?

The shoes are too small. What phrase describes the problem?

You want to know if a product has a warranty. What do you ask?

You do not want to decide immediately. What is a polite phrase?

This jacket is too small. Do you have another size?

These headphones are not cheap. How long is the warranty?

Thanks, I’ll think it over.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice