Travel Chinese
Chinese Supermarket & Grocery Shopping Phrases — Navigate Chinese Stores Like a Local
Learn essential Chinese phrases for supermarket and grocery shopping — finding aisles, asking about products, checking prices and discounts, reading labels, using membership cards, and handling checkout in Mandarin with pinyin.
2026-07-01 · 7 min read
Finding your way around a Chinese supermarket
Chinese supermarkets can feel overwhelming if you don't know the layout vocabulary. Key sections: 生鲜区 (shēng xiān qū) — fresh produce area, 食品区 (shí pǐn qū) — food section, 饮料区 (yǐn liào qū) — beverages, 调味品区 (tiáo wèi pǐn qū) — condiments and seasonings, 零食区 (líng shí qū) — snacks, 日用品区 (rì yòng pǐn qū) — daily necessities. To ask where something is: 请问...在哪里 (qǐng wèn...zài nǎ lǐ) — excuse me, where is...
Common supermarket types: 超市 (chāo shì) — supermarket (general), 大卖场 (dà mài chǎng) — hypermarket/superstore (like Carrefour 家乐福 or Walmart 沃尔玛), 便利店 (biàn lì diàn) — convenience store (like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart 全家, Lawson 罗森), 菜市场 (cài shì chǎng) — wet market / farmers market for fresh produce. Knowing the type helps you anticipate what is available.
Essential grocery items and how to ask for them
Fruits and vegetables: 水果 (shuǐ guǒ) — fruit, 苹果 (píng guǒ) — apple, 香蕉 (xiāng jiāo) — banana, 葡萄 (pú tao) — grapes, 西瓜 (xī guā) — watermelon. Vegetables: 蔬菜 (shū cài) — vegetables, 白菜 (bái cài) — Chinese cabbage, 土豆 (tǔ dòu) — potato, 西红柿 (xī hóng shì) — tomato, 黄瓜 (huáng guā) — cucumber, 青菜 (qīng cài) — leafy greens.
Meat and seafood: 肉 (ròu) — meat, 猪肉 (zhū ròu) — pork, 牛肉 (niú ròu) — beef, 鸡肉 (jī ròu) — chicken, 鱼 (yú) — fish, 虾 (xiā) — shrimp. Dairy and staples: 牛奶 (niú nǎi) — milk, 鸡蛋 (jī dàn) — eggs, 面包 (miàn bāo) — bread, 大米 (dà mǐ) — rice, 面条 (miàn tiáo) — noodles, 食用油 (shí yòng yóu) — cooking oil. To ask for a specific cut: 我要半斤猪肉 (wǒ yào bàn jīn zhū ròu) — I want half a jin (250g) of pork.
Prices, discounts, and membership cards
Price questions: 这个多少钱 (zhè ge duō shǎo qián) — how much is this, 多少钱一斤 (duō shǎo qián yī jīn) — how much per jin (500g). Weight units: 斤 (jīn) — 500 grams (most common in markets), 公斤 (gōng jīn) — kilogram, 两 (liǎng) — 50 grams. For packaged items: 多少钱一包 (duō shǎo qián yī bāo) — how much per pack, 多少钱一瓶 (duō shǎo qián yī píng) — how much per bottle.
Deals and discounts: 打折 (dǎ zhé) — on sale / discount, 打几折 (dǎ jǐ zhé) — what discount (note: 八折 means 20% off, not 80% off), 买一送一 (mǎi yī sòng yī) — buy one get one free, 特价 (tè jià) — special price, 促销 (cù xiāo) — promotion. Chinese supermarkets often require membership cards: 会员卡 (huì yuán kǎ) — membership card, 有会员卡吗 (yǒu huì yuán kǎ ma) — do you have a membership card, 可以积分 (kě yǐ jī fēn) — you can earn points. If you don't have one: 我没有会员卡 (wǒ méi yǒu huì yuán kǎ) — I don't have a membership card. Staff may scan theirs for you so you still get the discount.
Reading labels and checking product details
Reading Chinese food labels: 生产日期 (shēng chǎn rì qī) — production date, 保质期 (bǎo zhì qī) — shelf life / expiration, 保质期到... (bǎo zhì qī dào...) — expires on..., 配料表 (pèi liào biǎo) — ingredient list, 营养成分表 (yíng yǎng chéng fèn biǎo) — nutrition facts table. When checking freshness: 这个新鲜吗 (zhè ge xīn xiān ma) — is this fresh. To ask staff: 保质期到什么时候 (bǎo zhì qī dào shén me shí hou) — when does it expire.
Common label terms: 不含 (bù hán) — does not contain, 无添加 (wú tiān jiā) — no additives, 有机 (yǒu jī) — organic, 进口 (jìn kǒu) — imported, 国产 (guó chǎn) — domestically produced. For dietary needs: 有没有无糖的 (yǒu méi yǒu wú táng de) — is there a sugar-free version, 我对...过敏 (wǒ duì...guò mǐn) — I'm allergic to... (fill in: 花生 huā shēng peanut, 牛奶 niú nǎi milk, 小麦 xiǎo mài wheat).
Checkout, bags, and payment
At checkout: 结账 (jié zhàng) — checkout / pay the bill, 收银台 (shōu yín tái) — cashier counter, 排队 (pái duì) — wait in line. Bags: 袋子 (dài zi) — bag, 要袋子吗 (yào dài zi ma) — do you need a bag (they usually cost extra), 我要一个袋子 (wǒ yào yī gè dài zi) — I need one bag, 不要袋子 (bù yào dài zi) — no bag needed. If you brought your own: 我自己带了袋子 (wǒ zì jǐ dài le dài zi) — I brought my own bag.
Payment: 扫码支付 (sǎo mǎ zhī fù) — scan to pay (QR code), 微信支付 (wēi xìn zhī fù) — WeChat Pay, 支付宝 (zhī fù bǎo) — Alipay, 现金 (xiàn jīn) — cash, 刷卡 (shuā kǎ) — pay by card. For the receipt: 小票 (xiǎo piào) — receipt (informal), 发票 (fā piào) — official receipt/invoice (for reimbursement). To ask for a receipt: 给我一张小票 (gěi wǒ yī zhāng xiǎo piào) — give me a receipt. If something rings up wrong: 这个价格不对 (zhè ge jià gé bù duì) — this price is wrong.
Related practice pages
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need to bring my own shopping bags in Chinese supermarkets?
In most Chinese cities, single-use plastic bags are no longer free — supermarkets charge ¥0.2–1.0 per bag. Many shoppers bring reusable bags. Some premium supermarkets provide free paper bags, but this is rare. It is good practice to carry a foldable shopping bag (购物袋 gòu wù dài) or a trolley cart (购物车 gòu wù chē), especially if you plan to buy groceries regularly.
Is it safe to buy fresh produce from Chinese wet markets (菜市场)?
Yes, wet markets are where most locals buy fresh produce, and they are perfectly safe with basic precautions. Wash all produce thoroughly before eating. Wet markets often have better prices and fresher items than supermarkets. However, go in the morning for the best selection — many vendors sell out by afternoon. Bring cash (small bills) as some wet market vendors may not accept cards, though WeChat and Alipay are now common even in markets.
How do Chinese supermarket loyalty cards and membership systems work?
Most Chinese supermarket chains have free membership cards. When you sign up (usually with a phone number or WeChat), you get a digital card or a physical card. Scanning the card at checkout gives you member prices (会员价), which can be 5–20% lower than regular prices. Points accumulate with purchases and can be redeemed for products or vouchers. If you do not have a card, simply tell the cashier 没有会员 (no membership) — they will often scan a store card on your behalf so you still get the discount.