I want _____   Wǒ yào........  我要.......

When looking for something in particular, you can just say wǒ yào and the thing that you want or need. This useful phrase can be used in just about any case that you want or need something. Some things you might want when shopping might be:

Clothes Yī fu  衣服
Shoes Xié  鞋
Watches Shǒu biǎo  手表
Jackets or Coats Dà yī   大衣
 

Too Expensive! Tài guì le  太贵了!

Used when you ask for the price of a T-shirt and the sales clerk says 500 RMB! Your telling them it's way too expensive.

Very Expensive  Hěn guì  很贵

When bargaining at the shops, hěn guì , is the best term to use when driving a hard bargain.

A little cheaper please Pián yi yī diǎn 便宜一点

Normally, if the prices are not listed displayed by the product, then you should bargain with sales staff at stores. When asking for a cheaper price, you should say Pián yi yī diǎn. They sales staff may shake their head or complain, but this is the process of bargaining. If you don't bargain, you may be paying as much as ten or more times the normal price. Be sure to know what you should pay and ask for a lower price.

Thank You xiè xie  谢谢

Saying Thank you is another basic and polite term that is easy to remember and use.

Very Good  Hěn hǎo  很好

This is useful when giving praise for a job or task well done.

This is beautiful Hěn piào liang 很漂亮

Use this phrase to praise something that is nice or beautiful. May also be used when meeting a pretty girl too!

No Good  Bù hǎo  不好

This is useful when there is a need to comment on a shoddy or incomplete job or task. Can also be used as a reply to Nǐ hǎo ma but may not be such a good reply. Q: Nǐ hǎo ma? (How are you?) A: Bù hǎo (No Good)

Don't want or No Bù yào  不要

This is the best term to use for touts - street hawkers who approach you at every tourist stop to ask you to buy things.

Bù yào ....will stop them in their track.

Receipt Fā piào  发票

Always ask for the receipt or Fā piào  at the shops or from a taxi. This may be useful if you need to complain about a fraud or shoddy product. Also useful if you leave behind your bag or camera in the taxi. I don't want Wo Bu Yao. Useful when refusing a tout or when offered a drink too many at the Dinner table.

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