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💗 买东西 (mǎi dōng xi) - Shopping at the Supermarket

Learn essential vocabulary for shopping at the supermarket. Practice asking for items, prices, and quantities using HSK1-HSK2 level vocabulary.

Chinese lesson from Wednesday, June 25, 2025

🛒 At the Supermarket

Learn how to navigate the supermarket, ask for items, and communicate with store employees using practical shopping phrases.

Perfect for beginners and essential concepts

📚 Key Phrase: 我要买东西 (wǒ yào mǎi dōng xi)

📖

Grammar Focus

💗 Shopping at the Supermarket

Today we learn essential phrases for everyday shopping. These expressions help you navigate the supermarket, ask for what you need, and complete your purchases confidently.
🛒 Shopping Request Pattern:
我要买 + [item]

This is the basic pattern for expressing what you want to buy:
• 我要买东西 (wǒ yào mǎi dōng xi) - I want to buy things
• 我要买水果 (wǒ yào mǎi shuǐ guǒ) - I want to buy fruit
💰 Price Inquiry Pattern:
这个 + 多少钱？
• 这个多少钱？ (zhè ge duō shao qián?) - How much is this?
• 那个多少钱？ (nà ge duō shao qián?) - How much is that?

Essential for asking prices of items you want to buy.
有没有水果？
yǒu méi yǒu shuǐ guǒ?
Do you have fruits?
🔍 Availability Questions:
The pattern 有没有...？ is perfect for asking if something is available:
• 有没有水果？ - Do you have fruits?
• 有没有牛奶？ - Do you have milk?

This polite way to ask helps you find what you need.
🔢 Quantity Expression:
我买 + [number] + 个
• 我买三个 (wǒ mǎi sān ge) - I buy three
• 我买五个 (wǒ mǎi wǔ ge) - I buy five

个 (ge) is the most common measure word for counting items.
💡 Cultural Insight:
Chinese supermarket culture emphasizes polite interaction. Always say 谢谢 (thank you) and use 请问 (excuse me) when asking for help. Payment by card is common and asking 可以用卡吗？ is perfectly normal.
我要买东西
wǒ yào mǎi dōng xi
I want to buy things
Quiero comprar cosas

词汇 Vocabulary Practice

Practice writing the phrases from today's Chinese lesson!

我要买东西
wǒ yào mǎi dōng xi
English:
I want to buy things
Español:
Quiero comprar cosas
这个多少钱？
zhè ge duō shao qián?
English:
How much is this?
Español:
¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
有没有水果？
yǒu méi yǒu shuǐ guǒ?
English:
Do you have fruits?
Español:
¿Tienen frutas?
我买三个
wǒ mǎi sān ge
English:
I buy three
Español:
Compro tres
在哪儿？
zài nǎr?
English:
Where is it?
Español:
¿Dónde está?
我要这个
wǒ yào zhè ge
English:
I want this one
Español:
Quiero este
可以用卡吗？
kě yǐ yòng kǎ ma?
English:
Can I use a card?
Español:
¿Puedo usar tarjeta?
谢谢你
xiè xie nǐ
English:
Thank you
Español:
Gracias

文化 Cultural Insights

🛒 Chinese Supermarket Culture

In Chinese supermarkets, it's common to ask store employees for help finding items. The phrase 在哪儿？(Where is it?) is very useful, and employees are generally helpful and patient with foreign customers.

💳 Modern Payment Methods

While mobile payments like WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate in China, asking 可以用卡吗？ (Can I use a card?) is still useful. Most places accept international cards, especially in larger cities.

🍎 Fresh Market Traditions

Chinese shoppers often prefer fresh markets for fruits and vegetables. Learning basic shopping phrases helps you navigate both modern supermarkets and traditional markets with confidence.

💰 Prices and Payment

Master expressions for asking about prices, quantities, and making payments using everyday shopping vocabulary.

For students ready to dive deeper

📖 Reading Practice

📖 买水果 - Buying Fruit

Xiǎo Míng qù chāo shì mǎi shuǐ guǒ.
小明去超市买水果。
Tā wèn: "Yǒu méi yǒu píng guǒ?"
他问："有没有苹果？"
Diàn yuán shuō: "Yǒu, zài nà biān."
店员说："有，在那边。"
Xiǎo Míng wèn: "Zhè ge duō shao qián?"
小明问："这个多少钱？"
Diàn yuán shuō: "Wǔ kuài qián."
店员说："五块钱。"
Xiǎo Míng shuō: "Wǒ mǎi sān ge. Kě yǐ yòng kǎ ma?"
小明说："我买三个。可以用卡吗？"
Diàn yuán shuō: "Kě yǐ. Xiè xie nǐ!"
店员说："可以。谢谢你！"

📝 Vocabulary from this reading:

超市
chāo shì
supermarket
水果
shuǐ guǒ
fruit
苹果
píng guǒ
apple
店员
diàn yuán
shop assistant
块钱
kuài qián
yuan (money)

作业 Homework & Practice

💗 Shopping & Supermarket Practice

📝 Writing Practice:
1. Write 5 shopping requests using: 我要买 + [item]
2. Create price conversations: A: 这个多少钱？ B: [price] A: 我买三个
3. Write 3 availability questions using 有没有...？

🗣️ Speaking Practice:
4. Practice asking where things are: 水果在哪儿？ 牛奶在哪儿？
5. Learn to ask about payment: 可以用卡吗？ (at least 3 different contexts)

🎯 Real Life Application:
6. Visit a store and describe your shopping experience in Chinese using today's vocabulary
7. Learn 5 common supermarket items in Chinese: 牛奶, 鸡蛋, 米饭, 蔬菜, 肉

💡 Bonus Challenge:
Create a complete shopping dialogue from entering the store to paying and leaving

🌟 Cultural Reflection:
Think about: How do shopping expressions differ between your culture and Chinese culture? What makes Chinese shopping interactions unique?

Practice Checklist:

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