Bargaining in China is not an argument. It is a short, friendly performance with an agreed ending — and once you know the script, it is one of the most enjoyable parts of traveling there. The vendor expects a counteroffer. The walk-away is part of the dance. Nobody is insulted, and the price you pay is the one you earned.
What trips up most visitors is not shyness. It is not knowing the words. This guide is the whole shopping loop — asking the price, checking the size, bargaining down, and paying — in the Chinese people actually use at markets and small shops.
The Price Loop, in Four Sentences
Every market conversation in China runs on these four:
- 这个多少钱？ — Zhège duōshǎo qián? — “How much is this?”
- 太贵了。 — Tài guì le. — “That’s too expensive.”
- 可以便宜一点吗？ — Kěyǐ piányi yīdiǎn ma? — “Can you make it a little cheaper?”
- 一百块可以吗？ — Yībǎi kuài kěyǐ ma? — “Would 100 kuai be okay?”
便宜 (piányi, cheap / a good price) is the word that makes bargaining work. On its own it is an adjective; in 便宜一点 it becomes a soft request — “a bit cheaper.” Soft is the point. The politeness is what gets you the discount, not the pressure.
块 (kuài) is the spoken word for the yuan. You will see 元 (yuán) on price tags and hear 块 in every market. Same money.
Money and Numbers You Cannot Skip
Vendors speak prices fast and in spoken shorthand:
- 五块 — wǔ kuài — 5 yuan
- 三十 — sān shí — 30
- 一百二 — yībǎi èr — 120 (note: 一百二 means 120, not 200)
- 两百 — liǎng bǎi — 200 (say liǎng bǎi, not èr bǎi)
Two money phrases that end every transaction:
- 能扫码吗？ — Néng sǎo mǎ ma? — “Can I scan (the QR code)?” — how you pay with WeChat or Alipay
- 能用现金吗？ — Néng yòng xiànjīn ma? — “Can I use cash?”
扫码 (sǎo mǎ, scan the code) is the single most useful payment verb in modern China. Small stalls, taxis, and restaurants all run on the customer scanning a printed QR code. If your phone is not set up for it, carry cash — and know that 现金 (xiànjīn) means exactly that.
One number worth recognizing as it flies past: 斤 (jīn), the half-kilo unit used for fruit, nuts, and anything sold by weight. A price quoted “per jin” is about half what you would pay per kilo — do the math before you gasp at it.
The Bargaining Script, Slowly
A real market exchange, written the way it happens:
你： 这个多少钱？ (How much is this?)
老板： 一百五。 (150.)
你： 太贵了，可以便宜一点吗？ (That’s expensive — could you do a bit better?)
老板： 便宜给你，一百三。 (Fine for you — 130.)
你： 一百块可以吗？ (Would 100 work?)
老板： 不行，太少了。一百二。 (No, that’s too little. 120.)
你： 好吧，一百二，我要了。 (Alright, 120 — I’ll take it.)
Notice the last line: 我要了 (wǒ yào le, “I’ll take it”) closes the deal cleanly. Bargaining without ever saying yes is how travelers end up in a twenty-minute loop.
The walk-away
If the price is still wrong, the walk-away is legitimate — and it is usually where the real offer appears:
- 我不要了。 — Wǒ bú yào le. — “I’ll pass / I don’t want it after all.”
- 我再看看。 — Wǒ zài kànkan. — “I’ll look around a bit more.”
- 别的地方更便宜。 — Bié de dìfang gèng piányi. — “It’s cheaper elsewhere.”
If the vendor calls you back, the price is now real. If they don’t, they meant their number — and you can keep walking with no hard feelings.
Two more lines that move the price
- 两个一起多少钱？ — Liǎng ge yīqǐ duōshǎo qián? — “How much for both together?” (buying two is the classic lever)
- 我是学生，能再便宜点吗？ — Wǒ shì xuésheng, néng zài piányi diǎn ma? — “I’m a student — any chance of a bit less?”
That second one is a well-known market charm, real student or not. Vendors enjoy it. Use it with a smile.
Sizes, Colors, and Trying Things On
Shopping for clothes or shoes means a new vocabulary layer:
- 有没有大一号的？ — Yǒu méiyǒu dà yī hào de? — “Do you have one size bigger?”
- 可以试一下吗？ — Kěyǐ shì yīxià ma? — “Can I try it on?”
- 太小了 / 太大了。 — Tài xiǎo le / tài dà le. — “Too small / too big.”
- 有没有别的颜色？ — Yǒu méiyǒu bié de yánsè? — “Do you have other colors?”
- 这个有别的样子吗？ — Zhège yǒu bié de yàngzi ma? — “Does this come in other styles?”
Common colors: 红色 (hóngsè, red), 黑色 (hēisè, black), 白色 (báisè, white), 蓝色 (lánsè, blue). Red is the lucky color in Chinese culture and the default for gifts — which is also why red items in market stalls are worth checking for quality before you buy.
Where to Bargain — and Where It Is Embarrassing
Knowing the venue rules saves more money than any phrase.
Bargain freely:
- 旅游景点的小摊 — tourist-area stalls
- 义乌小商品市场 style wholesale and souvenir markets
- small clothing shops and street vendors
- antique and craft markets (where bargaining is half the fun)
Do not bargain:
- supermarkets and chain stores (fixed prices, staff cannot change them)
- department stores and malls
- restaurants and cafés
- anywhere with a printed price tag and a barcode scanner
Trying to bargain in a supermarket does not get you a discount — it just gets you a confused cashier. The verb for “the price is fixed” is 不能还价 (bù néng huánjià, no bargaining), and you will see it on signs in tourist traps that expect foreigners to try.
Digital Payment, the Chinese Way
The phrase 能扫码吗 will carry your whole trip. What is behind it:
- 微信支付 (Wēixìn zhīfù) — WeChat Pay
- 支付宝 (Zhīfùbǎo) — Alipay
Both now accept foreign cards through their apps, and vendors in every city expect one of the two. Two practical notes: carry a little cash for mountain villages and older vendors, and watch the vendor’s screen confirm the amount before you walk away — 多少钱 is worth repeating even when you are scanning.
If a vendor shows you a QR code on their phone rather than a printed sign, ask 是你的码吗？ (Shì nǐ de mǎ ma?) — “Is this your code?” A quick check costs nothing.
Three Habits Worth Stealing
- Smile first, price second. Greeting with 你好 before launching into 多少钱 changes the starting number more often than any bargaining line.
- Say your number out loud and clearly. Vendors expect the counteroffer. Mumbling 一百 when they said 一百五 ends the conversation; saying it with eye contact continues it.
- Walk away at least once. It is not rude — it is the local rhythm. Half the time, your back-turned step is when the best price appears.
And one habit for the road: if you are heading from the market to a meal, our How to Order Food in Chinese guide covers the restaurant half of the day — from 点菜 to the bill.
Want the characters on your shopping list in your own name? The tools at ChineseToolkit write any name in characters and pinyin — useful for custom seals, chopsticks, and the kind of souvenir that is actually personal.
