Bargaining in China

Nǐ zài zhōngguó mǎi dōngxi de shíhòu ，shì bú shì kàn dào jiàgé yǐhòu jiù fùqián le ne ？

你在中国买东西的时候，是不是看到价格以后就付钱了呢？

When you do shopping in China, will you pay money at the first sight of the price tag?

Dànshì nǐ zhīdào zhōngguó yǒu “kǎnjià ”wénhuà ma ？Nǐ chángshì guò ma ？

但是你知道中国有“砍价”文化吗？你尝试过吗？

Do you have any idea about the “bargaining culture” in China? Have you ever tried to bargain?

Jīn tiān jiù ràng wǒ jiāo nǐ zěnme zài mǎi dōngxi de shí hòu kǎnjià 。

今天就让我教你怎么在买东西的时候砍价。

Today, I’d like to tell you how to bargain in China.

第一招：假装犹豫 dì yī zhāo ：jiǎzhuāng yóuyù

Trick 1: Pretend to be hesitant

Dāng wǒmen qù mǎi yīfu shí ，zìjǐ hěn xǐhuan ér shāngjiā yòu bǎ jiàqián tái dé hěn gāo de shíhòu ，wǒ men búnéng bǎ hěn xǐhuan zhè jiàn yīfu de biǎoqíng biǎolù chūlái ，gāi shuō yīxiē yóuyù de huà 。

当我们去买衣服时，自己很喜欢而商家又把价钱抬得很高的时候，我们不能把很喜欢这件衣服的表情表露出来，该说一些犹豫的话。

When the store owner keeps demanding a high price for a dress that we love very much, we cannot disclose our like for it. Instead, we should say something to show our hesitation.

Bǐrú ，“zhè jiàn yīfu dà le yīxiē ”“zhè yánsè hǎoxiàng àn le diǎn ”，lǎobǎn kàn nǐ yǒu xiē yóuyù ，nǐ jiù yǒu jīhuì kǎnjià le 。

比如，“这件衣服大了一些”“这颜色好像暗了点”，老板看你有些犹豫，你就有机会砍价了。

For example, “This dress is large for me.”, or “It looks kind of dark.” Once the owner reads your hesitation, you would be likely to get the opportunity of bargaining.

第二招：假装放弃 dì èr zhāo ：jiǎzhuāng fàngqì

Trick 2: Pretend to give up

Dāng nǐ kǎnjià le jǐ cì ，juédé jiàgé búnéng zài tí le ，dànshì shāngjiā bú dáyīng de shíhòu ，nàme nǐ kěyǐ zhíjiē shuō ：“zhè gè jiàqián búxíng de huà jiù suàn le ，wǒ bú mǎi le ”，ránhòu zhuǎnshēn zhǔnbèi líkāi 。

当你砍价了几次，觉得价格不能再提了，但是商家不答应的时候，那么你可以直接说：“这个价钱不行的话就算了，我不买了”，然后转身准备离开。

You offer your prices repeatedly and believe it won’ t work any more, but the owner still shows no sign of giving in. In this case, just say directly, “If you don’t feel right about the price, I wouldn’t take it.” At the same time, turn around and prepare to walk out of the store.

Yěxǔ zhèyàng shāngjiā jiù huì dáyīng nǐ le ，dāngrán zhè zhǒng fāngfǎ yě yǒu shībài de shíhòu 。

也许这样商家就会答应你了，当然这种方法也有失败的时候。

As a result, the owner may agree to your offer. However, it may fail sometimes as well.

第三招：货比三家 dì sān zhāo ：huò bǐ sān jiā

Trick 3: Shop around before you buy

Yào shì nǐ fāxiàn shāngjiā gěi chū de jiàgé tài gāo de shíhòu ，kěyǐ dào qítā de diàn qù kàn yī xià 。ǐjiào jǐ jiā diàn gěi chū de jiàgé ，xuǎnzé zhìliàng hǎo yòu piányí de nà gè 。

要是你发现商家给出的价格太高的时候，可以到其他的店去看一下。比较几家店给出的价格，选择质量好又便宜的那个。

When you find the price offered by an store owner is far too high, you can just shop around and make a comparison of the prices. And, at the end, take the one that is provided with good quality but costs less money.

第四招：鼓起勇气 dì sì zhāo ：gǔ qǐ yǒngqì

Trick 4: Be bold at bargaining

Búyào juédé búhǎoyìsī jiù bú kǎnjià ，zhè yàng de huà nǐ huì bái bái làngfèi hěn duō qián 。

不要觉得不好意思就不砍价，这样的话你会白白浪费很多钱。

Never be embarrassed at bargaining. Otherwise, you will waste much money. 

xiǎng yī xiǎng ，wéi le  jiéshěng zìjǐ xīnxīnkǔkǔ ér zhèng lái de qián ，kǎnjià suàn shénme ne ？

想一想，为了节省自己辛辛苦苦而挣来的钱，砍价算什么呢？

Just think about your hard work. What would bargaining matter anyhow? 

Dāng nǐ xíguàn kǎnjià bìng qiě zhǎngwò le kǎnjià de jìqiǎo yǐhòu ，nǐ kěnéng huì yǒu mǎn mǎn de chéngjiù gǎn ！

当你习惯砍价并且掌握了砍价的技巧以后，你可能会有满满的成就感！

When you get used to bargaining and know well about its skills, you may feel much accomplished.

Búguò xūyào zhùyì de shì ，zài chāoshì lǐ shì búnéng kǎnjià de 。

不过需要注意的是，在超市里是不能砍价的。

However, it should be noted that there is no bargaining in Chinese supermarkets. 

Shìhé kǎnjià de dìfāng shì jiē biān de shāngdiàn huòzhě shì lù biān tān ，lù biān xiǎo tān de kǎnjià chénggōng lǜ kě shì zuì gāo de 。

适合砍价的地方是街边的商店或者是路边摊，路边小摊的砍价成功率可是最高的。

Bargaining is applicable only in the street stores or street stalls. And most probably, you would make a hit in the later.