Bargaining Tips and Basic Mandarin Skills
Bargaining Tips and Etiquette
Unlike North America or Europe it is common to bargain in China. However, there is some important etiquette to follow.
- Never start to bargain unless you intend to complete a sale. It is extremely rude in China to start to bargain just to see how low you can get the price, or walk away without purchasing. Don’t do it. You are wasting the time of the seller and causing both of you to lose face.
- Don’t offer 250. If you offer 250 as a price, then you are insulting the seller. 250 is slang for “idiot” or “stupid” in Chinese. No one really knows how the saying originated, but the best guess is that at one time an official offered a reward of 1000 to capture a criminal and four people worked together to capture the criminal. They then expected a reward of 1000 each but the official gave them 250 each, totaling 1000.
- Be respectful of sellers and don’t offer too low a price. At too low a price they won’t bargain with you. Sellers and store staff know exactly what their wholesale cost is and what markup they need for a profit. Offering too low a price will result in the seller just waving you away. If they start to wave you away, offer a higher price.
- Remember that this is their livelihood. Bargaining over a few rmb converts to only a few dollars.
- If you start to bargain, complete the sale.
- That being said, Chinese people respect people who can bargain efficiently!
Bargaining Phrases
Wo bu yao – I don’t want
Duo shao qian – How much money
Tai guai – too expensive
Other Great Phrases
Dui bu qi – Sorry …. this goes a long way in etiquette in any country! Be polite
Mei wen ti – No problem
xie xie – Thank you
Ni hao – Hello
Ni che le ma? – This literally means “have you eaten” but is also a common greeting in China.
There is No Fat Shaming in China – Be Prepared to be called Fat!
Many times I was told I was fat. This is actually a compliment in China. It does not have any negative connotations as it does in other parts of the world.
If you are fat, it’s just a fact, but also means that you are well off enough to afford to eat well. I’ve had so many people tell me I’m fat. My Chinese hair stylist greats me with “Oh you are so fat! Are you having twins?” She means it as a warm greeting. Years ago on a return trip to China a female friend asked me “Do you think I am more fat this time?” I terrifying but aware of Chinese culture replied “Yes…” She replied “Oh good! You are Chinese now. I hear in your country that men get really scared when a woman asks that question!”
Translation Apps
Travelling in China is so much easier now with the use of translation apps! Make sure you have one from the list on the apps page of this website!
In past times, I had to get someone to write out where I wanted to go in Chinese and pinyin to show to a taxi driver. I also had to get someone to write out my address so I could get home. Carrying a phrase book was a necessity! But now with technology it’s much easier to communicate. I have friends who don’t speak English but we were easily able to communicate for the duration of my visit using a translation app.
Steps:
- Press the English language selector and say what you what in English into your app.
- App translates it into Chinese
- Let the Chinese person read or hear the translation.
- Press the Chinese language selector and the Chinese person replies.
- Let the app translate into English
- Read or listen to the translation.
- Repeat as necessary
Learn Basic Mandarin
Chinese people really appreciate any effort you make to speak their language. Watch this video on Mandarin Pronunciation to get you started.
If you want to learn some basic mandarin, the best apps are Duolingo or Pimsleur Mandarin
Learn your numbers
| # | Pinyin | # | Pinyin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ling or yao | |||
| 1 | yī | 6 | liū | |
| 2 | èr | 7 | qī | |
| 3 | sān | 8 | bā | |
| 4 | sì | 9 | jiǔ | |
| 5 | wǔ | 10 | shí | |
| 100 | yī bǎi | 1000 | yī qiān | |
| 10,000 | yi wan | 100,000 | Shi wan |
Structure of numbers
10 + 2 = 12 shi er
68 is 6 times 10 + 8 = liu shi ba
168 would be yi bei lui shi ba
Other helpful phrases
Mai dan – the check
Cai dan – menu
dao le – arrived
Zou – go