Language/Yue-chinese/Vocabulary/At-the-Market

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Yue Chinese → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Shopping and Services → At the Market

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson "Shopping and Services: At the Market" in our Complete 0 to A1 Yue Chinese Course. In this lesson, we will learn useful phrases for shopping at the market in Yue Chinese. Shopping is an essential part of daily life, and it's important to know how to communicate effectively when buying goods and negotiating prices. Whether you are visiting a local market in Hong Kong or Guangzhou, or you are simply interested in the Yue Chinese language and culture, this lesson will provide you with the vocabulary and phrases you need to navigate the market with confidence.

This lesson is designed for complete beginners who are starting to learn Yue Chinese. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to ask for prices, bargain, and engage in basic conversations with vendors at the market. We will start with the basics of shopping vocabulary and gradually build up to more complex scenarios. So let's dive in and explore the exciting world of shopping in Yue Chinese!

Vocabulary

Before we delve into the details of shopping at the market, let's learn some essential vocabulary that will help you navigate through the lesson smoothly. Familiarize yourself with these words and practice their pronunciation.

Shopping Vocabulary

Here are some common words related to shopping:

Yue Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
市場	si5 coeng4	market
商店	soeng1 dim3	shop
買	maai5	to buy
賣	maai6	to sell
商品	soeng1 pin2	merchandise
逛街	gong2 gaai1	to go shopping
付錢	fu6 cin2	to pay money
錢	cin2	money
現金	jin6 gam1	cash
信用卡	seon3 jung6 kaat1	credit card
收據	sau1 geoi3	receipt

Food Vocabulary

Since the market is often a place to buy fresh food, it's important to know some food-related vocabulary as well:

Yue Chinese	Pronunciation	English Translation
水果	seoi2 gwok3	fruit
蔬菜	so1 coi3	vegetables
肉	juk6	meat
雞	gai1	chicken
魚	jyu4	fish
蝦	haa1	shrimp
米	mai5	rice
麵	min6	noodles
麵包	min6 baau1	bread
牛奶	ngau4 naai5	milk

Take your time to practice the pronunciation of these words. If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to listen to the audio recordings or ask your Yue Chinese teacher for guidance.

Basic Phrases for Shopping at the Market

Now that we have some essential vocabulary under our belt, let's move on to learning some basic phrases for shopping at the market. These phrases will help you communicate with vendors, ask for prices, and engage in simple conversations. Practice saying these phrases out loud to improve your pronunciation.

Greetings

When you enter a market, it's polite to greet the vendors. Here are some common greetings you can use:

• 你好 (nei5 hou2) - Hello
• 早晨 (zou2 san4) - Good morning
• 下午好 (haa6 haa5 hou2) - Good afternoon
• 晚上好 (maan5 soeng6 hou2) - Good evening

Asking for Prices

When you see something you're interested in buying, you'll need to ask for the price. Here's how you can do it:

• 呢個幾多錢？ (ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2) - How much is this?
• 依個賣幾多錢？ (ji1 go3 maai6 gei2 do1 cin2) - How much does this cost?
• 邊個價錢？ (bin1 go3 gaa3 cin2) - What's the price?

Bargaining

Bargaining is a common practice in many markets. Here are some phrases you can use to negotiate the price:

• 貴唔貴？ (gwai3 m4 gwai3) - Is it expensive?
• 可唔可以平啲？ (ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 ping4 di1) - Can you make it cheaper?
• 可唔可以再便宜啲？ (ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 zoi3 bin6 jaa3 di1) - Can you make it even cheaper?

Remember to be polite and respectful when bargaining. It's all part of the shopping experience!

Making a Purchase

Once you've agreed on a price, it's time to make a purchase. Here's what you can say:

• 我要買呢個。 (ngo5 jiu3 maai5 ni1 go3) - I want to buy this.
• 我想買兩個。 (ngo5 soeng2 maai5 loeng5 go3) - I want to buy two of these.
• 你有無找錢？ (nei5 jau5 mou5 zaau2 cin2) - Do you have change?

Paying

When it's time to pay, you can use these phrases:

• 我用現金。 (ngo5 jung6 jin6 gam1) - I'll pay with cash.
• 我用信用卡。 (ngo5 jung6 seon3 jung6 kaat1) - I'll pay with a credit card.
• 你可以給我張收據嗎？ (nei5 ho2 ji5 kap1 ngo5 zoeng1 sau1 geoi3 maa1) - Can you give me a receipt?

Remember to thank the vendor after you've made your purchase. A simple "多謝" (do1 ze6) - Thank you, will suffice.

Cultural Insights

The market culture in Yue Chinese-speaking regions is vibrant and diverse. Different markets may have their own unique characteristics and specialties. For example, the famous Temple Street Night Market in Hong Kong is known for its lively atmosphere and street food stalls, while the Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street in Guangzhou is famous for its traditional Cantonese snacks and local products. These markets not only offer a wide range of goods but also provide a glimpse into the local culture and lifestyle.

In addition to the variety of goods available, bargaining is an important aspect of the market culture in Yue Chinese-speaking regions. Vendors often expect customers to negotiate the price, and it's considered a normal part of the shopping experience. Bargaining can be seen as a way to build rapport with the vendor and show your enthusiasm for the product. Remember to be polite and respectful during the negotiation process.

It's also worth noting that markets in Yue Chinese-speaking regions are not limited to physical spaces. Online shopping platforms, such as Taobao and JD.com, have gained immense popularity in recent years. These platforms offer a wide range of products and allow customers to compare prices and read reviews before making a purchase. While online shopping provides convenience, it's important to be cautious and ensure the authenticity and quality of the products.

Exercise: Dialogue Practice

Now it's time to put your newly acquired knowledge into practice! In this exercise, you will engage in a dialogue with a vendor at the market. Read the dialogue below and answer the questions that follow. Practice speaking both the customer and vendor parts to improve your speaking skills.

Dialogue: Customer: 早晨！呢個幾多錢？ (Good morning! How much is this?) Vendor: 呢個三十蚊。 (This is thirty dollars.) Customer: 可唔可以平啲？ (Can you make it cheaper?) Vendor: 可以減到二十五蚊。 (I can reduce it to twenty-five dollars.) Customer: 好嘞，我要買。 (Alright, I'll take it.) Vendor: 多謝！ (Thank you!)

Questions: 1. What did the customer say to greet the vendor? 2. How much was the initial price? 3. How much did the vendor reduce the price to? 4. Did the customer make a purchase? 5. How did the vendor respond to the customer?

Answers: 1. The customer said "早晨！" (Good morning!) 2. The initial price was "三十蚊" (thirty dollars). 3. The vendor reduced the price to "二十五蚊" (twenty-five dollars). 4. Yes, the customer made a purchase. 5. The vendor responded with "多謝！" (Thank you!)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've completed the lesson "Shopping and Services: At the Market" in our Complete 0 to A1 Yue Chinese Course. You've learned essential vocabulary and phrases for shopping at the market, including greetings, asking for prices, bargaining, and making a purchase. Remember to practice speaking these phrases to build your confidence and fluency in Yue Chinese.

In the next lesson, we will explore the topic of "Public Services," where you will learn vocabulary related to public services such as the post office, bank, and hospital. Stay tuned and keep up the great work!

Table of Contents - Yue Chinese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Pronouns and Possessives

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing People and Things
• Describing Actions

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Location and Direction
• Connecting Ideas

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Essentials

  ---

Verb Tenses and Aspects

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Yue Chinese Customs and Traditions

• Festivals and Holidays
• Etiquette and Manners

  ---

Shopping and Services

• At the Market
• Public Services

  ---

Comparatives and Superlatives

• Making Comparisons
• Expressing the Best and the Worst

  ---

Yue Chinese Art and Literature

• Traditional Art Forms
• Famous Yue Chinese Literature

Other Lessons

• Basic Greetings
• Colors
• Directions
• Drinks
• Family Members
• Geography
• Time 時間
• Eating Out
• Television and Movies
• Numbers

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