To go shopping in Chinese - Lesson 23

This online Mandarin Chinese lesson focuses mainly on the  "watch", "try" and "advise" during a shopping session. 

1. Vocabulary

Going further

1. Find more color vocabulary here.
2. Learn new vocabulary about objects or clothing with our online picture book.

2. Grammar

A. Sentences with -的 ‹ de ›

We had already seen that the particle 的 ‹ de › could be used to mark ownership / possession when placed between two nouns and can also be used to modify a noun with an adjective.

In this lesson we will see that 的 ‹ de › can also be placed at the end of a sentence or word.

• 这 件 衣服 是 大卫 的 。 ‹ Zhè jiàn yīfú shì Dàwèi de. › (= 大卫 的 衣服 ‹ Dàwèi de yīfú ›)
  This garment is the one belonging to David.
• 这 件 便宜 的 很 好看 。 ‹ Zhè jiàn piányí de hěn hǎokàn. › (= 便宜 的 衣服 ‹ piányí de yīfú ›)
  This cheap one (garment) is nice.
• 我 换 一 件 小 的。 ‹ Wǒ huàn yī jiàn xiǎo de. › (= 小 的 衣服 ‹ xiǎo de yīfú ›)
  I changed it for a smaller one (clothes).

B. Sentences with 有点儿 ‹ yǒudiǎnr ›

有点儿 ‹ yǒudiǎnr › is used to describe the imperfect state of a thing. It is used in the same way when we say in English, for example "a bit (too) large", "a bit (too) far," ..

• 有点儿 贵。 ‹ Yǒudiǎnr guì. ›
  It is a bit expensive.
• 这 件 衣服 有点儿 大。 ‹ Zhè jiàn yīfú yǒudiǎnr dà. ›
  These clothes are a bit too big.
• 我 家 离 学校 有点儿 远 。 ‹ Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào yǒudiǎnr yuǎn. ›
  My house is a bit far from my school.

C. Reduplication of verbs

Reduplication of monosyllabic verbs can be done in the form AA or A 一 A.

The one of the polysyllabic verbs is done in the ABAB form only

Some verbs in Chinese can be reduplicated to suggest:

- A short and quick action :

• 你 看看 ！ ‹ Nǐ kànkan! ›
  Look !

- An attempt or a try:

• 他 试试 这 件 衣服 。 ‹ Tā shìshi zhè jiàn yīfú. ›
  He tries a garment.
• 我 找一找 她 。 ‹ Wǒ zhǎo yī zhǎo tā. ›
  I look for her.

- A laid back / relaxing action:

• 我 周末 去 北京 玩儿玩儿。 ‹ Wǒ zhōumò qù Běijīng wánrwánr. ›
  This weekend, I'm going to Beijing to have fun.

3. Dialogues

Dialogue N° 1

Try to understand this little Chinese dialogue by yourself.

＋－↓

- 这件衣服怎么样？ ‹ Zhè jiàn yīfú zěnmeyàng? ›
- 颜色很好看，但是有一点小。 ‹ Yánsè hěn hǎokàn, dànshì yǒu yīdiǎn xiǎo. ›

Dialogue N° 2

＋－↓

- (售货员：) 您买点儿什么？ ‹ (Shòuhuòyuán:) Nín mǎi diǎnr shénme? ›
- 我先看一看······ 冬天来了，我想买一顶帽子。 ‹ Wǒ xiān kàn yī kàn... Dōngtiān lái le, wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī dǐng màozi. ›
- 这顶怎么样？ ‹ Zhè dǐng zěnmeyàng? ›
- 有点儿贵······ ‹ Yǒudiǎnr guì... ›
- 看看，我们这儿有便宜的，款式也不错。 ‹ Kànkan, wǒmen zhèr yǒu piányí de, kuǎnshì yě bùcuò. ›
- 这些帽子确实好看······我最喜欢这款式的。有红色的，大一点的吗？ ‹ Zhè xiē màozi quèshí hǎokàn... Wǒ zuì xǐhuan zhè kuǎnshì de. Yǒu hóngsè de, dà yīdiǎn de ma? ›
- 有。这款式的50块钱一顶。 ‹ Yǒu. Zhè kuǎnshì de 50 kuài qián yī dǐng. ›

Traduction :

- (Seller:) What do you wish to buy?
- First, I have a look ... Winter is already here, I would like to buy a hat.
- How is this one?
- It's a bit expensive ...
- Look, here, we have cheap ones. Models are not bad either.
- These hats are nice indeed. I prefer this model. Are there red ones and a little bit bigger?
- Yes. This model is 50 yuan.

Dialogue N° 3

＋－↓

- 大卫，你看，那边有毛衣。天气越来越冷， 我想买一件。 ‹ Dàwèi, nǐ kàn, nà biān yǒu máoyī. Tiānqì yuè lái yuè lěng, wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī jiàn. ›
我们一起往里走看看吧。 ‹ Wǒmen yīqǐ wǎng lǐ zǒu kànkan ba. ›
- 行······这件怎么样？ ‹ Xíng... Zhè jiàn zěnmeyàng? ›
- 我不喜欢这个颜色。 ‹ Wǒ bù xǐhuan zhè ge yánsè. ›
- 你喜欢什么颜色的？ ‹ Nǐ xǐhuan shénme yánsè de? ›
- 绿色的。蓝色的也可以。 ‹ Lǜ sè de. Lán sè de yě kěyǐ. ›
- 这件呢，怎么样？ ‹ Zhè jiàn ne, zěnmeyàng? ›
- 颜色和款式都不错。我去试一试。 ‹ Yánsè hé kuǎnshì dōu bùcuò. Wǒ qù shì yī shì. ›
大卫，你看， 你觉得合适不合适？我觉得这件毛衣好舒服！ ‹ Dàwèi, nǐ kàn, nǐ juédé héshì bù héshì? Wǒ juédé zhè jiàn máoyī hǎo shūfú! ›
- 我觉得有点儿大。有没有小一点的？ ‹ Wǒ juédé yǒudiǎnr dà. Yǒu méiyǒu xiǎo yīdiǎn de? ›
- 有。我去换一件小一点的······ ‹ Yǒu. Wǒ qù huàn yī jiàn xiǎo yīdiǎn de... ›
- 王丽，这件大小很合适。我觉得非常好看！ ‹ Wáng Lì, zhè jiàn dàxiǎo hěn héshì. Wǒ juédé fēicháng hǎokàn! ›

Traduction :

- David, look, there are sweaters here. The weather is getting colder, I'd love to buy one. Let's get in together to take a look.
- Okay ... how is this one?
- I do not like this color.
- What colors do you like?
- Green; Blue would do too.
- And this one, what do you think?
- The color and model are not bad. I'm going to try. David, look, do you think it's fine? I think this sweater is very comfortable!
- I think it is a little bit big. Is there smaller one ?
- Yes. I will change for a smaller one ...
- Wang Li, this size suits you well. I am finding it really beautiful!

4. Exercises

A. Answer the questions according to previous dialogues:

1. 这红色的帽子多少钱一顶？
2. 王丽想买什么？
3. 王丽喜欢什么颜色？
4. 大卫觉得王丽试的毛衣大了还是小了？

B. Translate the following sentences in Chinese, using the term 有一点 :

1. This sweater is a bit expensive.
2. This shirt is a little bit short. (a shirt = 一件 衬衫 ‹ yī jiàn chènshān ›)
3. These pants are a little bit long. (pants = 一条 裤子 ‹ yī tiáo kùzi ›)
4. This skirt is a bit tight. (a skirt = 一条 裙子 ‹ yī tiáo qúnzi ›)
5. The winter here is a little bit cold.
6. The school is a little far away.