How to Ask Where a Supermarket Is in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to ask 'Is there a supermarket near here?' in Mandarin Chinese. This lesson teaches you to use 附近 (fùjìn) and 有 (yǒu) to find grocery stores, with pinyin and tone marks.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you need to buy groceries in a Chinese-speaking place, the most useful question is whether there is a supermarket nearby. In Mandarin, you can ask 这附近有超市吗？(Zhè fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma?) — literally 'Here nearby has supermarket?' This lesson teaches you that exact pattern, how to understand simple directions, and how to ask for a bigger or smaller store. You will practice the key words 超市 (chāoshì, supermarket), 附近 (fùjìn, nearby), and 有 (yǒu, to have/there is). By the end, you can ask the question, understand a yes/no answer, and ask a follow-up about location.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'Is there a supermarket near here?' in Mandarin Chinese.
- understand a simple yes/no answer and ask where the supermarket is.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
这附近有超市吗？
Is there a supermarket near here?
Zhè fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma?
The most direct way to ask. 这附近 means 'around here'; 有 means 'there is/are'; 吗 makes it a yes/no question.
超市在哪儿？
Where is the supermarket?
Chāoshì zài nǎr?
Use this after you know a supermarket exists. 在 means 'to be located at'; 哪儿 means 'where'.
有，就在前面。
Yes, it's just ahead.
Yǒu, jiù zài qiánmiàn.
A common positive answer. 就 adds the sense of 'right' or 'just'; 前面 means 'ahead' or 'in front'.
没有。
No, there isn't.
Méiyǒu.
The standard negative answer to 有 questions. Do not use 不有; 有 is negated with 没.
附近有便利店吗？
Is there a convenience store nearby?
Fùjìn yǒu biànlìdiàn ma?
A useful variation. 便利店 (biànlìdiàn) means 'convenience store', which may be closer than a supermarket.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is Place + 有 + Thing + 吗？ For example, 这附近有超市吗？ (Zhè fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma?) means 'Is there a supermarket near here?' You can replace 超市 with other places: 这附近有银行吗？ (Zhè fùjìn yǒu yínháng ma?) means 'Is there a bank near here?' or 这附近有地铁站吗？ (Zhè fùjìn yǒu dìtiězhàn ma?) means 'Is there a subway station near here?' To answer yes, say 有 (yǒu). To answer no, say 没有 (méiyǒu). If you want to ask where it is, use Thing + 在哪儿？ For example, 超市在哪儿？ (Chāoshì zài nǎr?) means 'Where is the supermarket?' The verb 在 (zài) means 'to be located at'. You can also ask 超市在哪儿？ after someone says 有.
When to use it
Use 这附近有超市吗？ when you are standing in a neighborhood and want to know if a supermarket is within walking distance. If you are already inside a store and want a different one, you can ask 附近还有超市吗？ (Fùjìn hái yǒu chāoshì ma?) — 'Is there another supermarket nearby?' The word 还 (hái) means 'also' or 'still'. If you need a specific type, say 大超市 (dà chāoshì, big supermarket) or 小超市 (xiǎo chāoshì, small supermarket). For example, 这附近有大超市吗？ (Zhè fùjìn yǒu dà chāoshì ma?) means 'Is there a big supermarket near here?' Remember that 附近 (fùjìn) means 'nearby' and usually comes before 有. Do not say 有附近超市; the location phrase comes first.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
请问，这附近有超市吗？
Excuse me, is there a supermarket near here?Qǐngwèn, zhè fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma?有，就在前面。
Yes, it's just ahead.Yǒu, jiù zài qiánmiàn.超市在哪儿？
Where is the supermarket?Chāoshì zài nǎr?一直走，在右边。
Go straight, it's on the right.Yìzhí zǒu, zài yòubiān.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, 超市 (chāoshì) usually refers to a supermarket, while 便利店 (biànlìdiàn) is a convenience store. When asking a stranger, start with 请问 (qǐngwèn, 'excuse me') to be polite. Tones matter: 超市 is chāo (high level) + shì (falling), not chǎo. In Taiwan, people often say 超商 (chāoshāng) instead of 超市, and 附近 is pronounced fùjìn in both places. If someone answers with 没有, it is not rude; it simply means there is none nearby. You can then ask 那附近呢？ (Nà fùjìn ne? — 'What about nearby?') to check a wider area.
One thing to watch for
Saying 不有 (bù yǒu) to mean 'there isn't'.
Try this instead: The verb 有 is always negated with 没, not 不. Say 没有 (méiyǒu). For example, 这附近没有超市 (Zhè fùjìn méiyǒu chāoshì) means 'There is no supermarket near here.' Also, do not put 附近 after 有; say 这附近有超市吗？ not 这有附近超市吗？
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is there a supermarket near here?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
这附近有超市吗？ (Zhè fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma?)
This uses the pattern Place + 有 + Thing + 吗. 这附近 means 'near here', 有 means 'there is', and 吗 makes it a yes/no question. You could also say 附近有超市吗？ (Fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma?) if the context is clear.
2Someone asks 这附近有超市吗？ and there is no supermarket. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
没有。 (Méiyǒu.)
没有 is the correct negative answer to a 有 question. Do not say 不有. If you want to be more specific, you can say 这附近没有超市 (Zhè fùjìn méiyǒu chāoshì), which means 'There is no supermarket near here.'
3Translate into Mandarin: 'Where is the supermarket?'
Show a sample answer
超市在哪儿？ (Chāoshì zài nǎr?)
This uses Thing + 在哪儿. 在 means 'to be located at' and 哪儿 means 'where'. In some regions, people say 哪里 (nǎlǐ) instead of 哪儿, but both are correct.
To find a supermarket, remember the pattern: 这附近有超市吗？ (Is there a supermarket near here?) Answer with 有 or 没有, then ask 超市在哪儿？ (Where is the supermarket?) Keep 附近 before 有, and never say 不有 — use 没有.
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