Haggling in Mandarin Chinese: Ask 'Can You Give Me a Discount?'
Learn to bargain in Mandarin Chinese: ask for a discount, respond to prices, and close a deal politely using 便宜一点, 打折, 太贵了, and 算便宜点吧.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In many Chinese markets and small shops, the first price you hear is often not the final price. This lesson teaches you how to ask for a discount in Mandarin Chinese without sounding rude. You will learn key phrases such as 便宜一点 (pián yi yì diǎn), 打折 (dǎ zhé), and 太贵了 (tài guì le), and how to respond when the seller gives a counter-offer. The focus is on spoken bargaining, not simply paying. You will practice a short negotiation and learn when haggling is appropriate and when it is not.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a lower price using 便宜一点 and 打折.
- say a price is too expensive and ask for a specific reduction.
- respond to a seller's counter-offer and close the deal politely.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
便宜一点可以吗？
Can you make it a little cheaper?
pián yi yì diǎn kě yǐ ma?
A polite, general request for a lower price. Use it after hearing the initial price. It works in markets and small shops.
能打折吗？
Can you give a discount?
néng dǎ zhé ma?
Asks whether a discount is possible. In Chinese, 打折 means to give a percentage discount, not a fixed amount off.
太贵了，算便宜点吧。
Too expensive, make it cheaper.
tài guì le, suàn pián yi diǎn ba.
A common bargaining line. 算便宜点吧 softens the request with 吧, making it sound like a suggestion rather than a demand.
最低多少钱？
What is your lowest price?
zuì dī duō shao qián?
Asks for the seller's bottom price. Use it when you are serious about buying but want to skip back-and-forth.
便宜五块，我就买。
Knock off five yuan and I'll buy it.
pián yi wǔ kuài, wǒ jiù mǎi.
A conditional offer. State a specific amount and your commitment. 就 here means 'then' or 'in that case'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A useful pattern for bargaining is: 便宜 + amount + 可以吗？ For example, 便宜十块可以吗？ (pián yi shí kuài kě yǐ ma?) means 'Can you make it ten yuan cheaper?' You can also use 打折吗？ to ask about a percentage discount. If the seller says 打八折 (dǎ bā zhé), it means you pay 80% of the original price, so a 20% discount. To make a counter-offer, say 便宜五块，我就买 (pián yi wǔ kuài, wǒ jiù mǎi). The structure is flexible: change the amount and the item to fit the situation.
When to use it
Bargaining is common in tourist markets, street stalls, and small independent shops in mainland China. It is less common in supermarkets, chain stores, convenience stores, and restaurants with printed menus. In those places, asking 能打折吗？ may get a polite no. In Taiwan and Hong Kong, bargaining is also possible in some markets, but usually less aggressive than in mainland tourist areas. A good rule: if prices are not fixed on a label, a polite 便宜一点可以吗？ is usually acceptable. If the seller says 不讲价 (bù jiǎng jià), it means the price is fixed, so do not push further.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
老板，这个多少钱？
Boss, how much is this?lǎo bǎn, zhè ge duō shao qián?一百二十块。
One hundred and twenty yuan.yì bǎi èr shí kuài.太贵了，便宜一点可以吗？
Too expensive, can you make it a little cheaper?tài guì le, pián yi yì diǎn kě yǐ ma?最低一百块，不能再便宜了。
One hundred at the lowest, I can't go any cheaper.zuì dī yì bǎi kuài, bù néng zài pián yi le.A little context goes a long way
In mainland Chinese markets, bargaining is often expected, but tone matters. A friendly 太贵了，便宜一点吧 sounds like a normal negotiation; a harsh 太贵了！ can sound like a complaint. Sellers may use 最低价 (zuì dī jià, 'lowest price') to signal the final offer. If you accept, say 好，就要这个 (hǎo, jiù yào zhè ge) or 行，帮我包起来 (xíng, bāng wǒ bāo qǐ lái). In Taiwan, bargaining is more common in night markets than in shops, and a softer 可以算便宜一点吗？ is often preferred.
One thing to watch for
Using 打折 to mean a fixed amount off, as in 打折五块 (dǎ zhé wǔ kuài) for 'five yuan off'.
Try this instead: 打折 refers to a percentage discount. To ask for a fixed amount off, say 便宜五块可以吗？ (pián yi wǔ kuài kě yǐ ma?). If you want a percentage discount, say 打八折 (dǎ bā zhé), which means paying 80% of the price.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are at a market stall. The seller says 八十块. Ask for a discount in a polite way.
Show a sample answer
便宜一点可以吗？
This is a polite general request. You could also say 能打折吗？ or 太贵了，算便宜点吧. All are acceptable depending on how direct you want to be.
2The seller says 打九折. How much will you pay for a 100-yuan item?
Show a sample answer
九十块。
打九折 means you pay 90% of the original price. So a 100-yuan item costs 90 yuan. If it were 打八折, you would pay 80 yuan.
3You want to offer a specific price: you will buy if the seller takes off 10 yuan. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
便宜十块，我就买。
This states your condition clearly. You can change the amount, for example 便宜五块，我就买. The seller may accept or counter-offer.
Bargaining in Mandarin is about polite persistence. Start with 便宜一点可以吗？ or 能打折吗？, then make a specific offer like 便宜五块，我就买. If the seller says 最低价 or 不讲价, accept or walk away politely. Keep your tone friendly and know where haggling is appropriate.
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