Intermediate - Negotiating with a Taobao Merchant

(C1907)

A: 你好！这双鞋有货吗？
nı̌hǎo! zhè shuāng xié yǒu huò ma?
Hello! Do you have this pair of shoes in stock?

B: 亲，有的哦。你要几码的？
qı̄n, yǒu de o. nı̌ yào jı̌ mǎ de?
We do, dear. What size would you like?

A: 36码的。你们的鞋偏大还是偏小？
sānshı́ liù mǎ de. nı̌men de xié piān dà háishi piān xiǎo?
Size 36. Do your shoes tend to run large or small?

B: 亲，是标准码哦。平时穿多大的，就买多大的。
qı̄n, shı̀ biāozhǔn mǎ o. pı́ngshı́ chuān duō dà de, jiù mǎi
duō dà de.
They’re standard sizes, dear. Just buy the size that you
normally wear.

A: 哦。什么时候能发货？
o. shénme shı́hou néng fāhuò?
Oh. When will you be able to ship them?

B: 亲，现在付款，下午就能发货。

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). c 2012 Praxis Language Ltd.
 qı̄n, xiànzài fùkuǎn, xiàwǔ jiù néng fāhuò.
If you pay now, dear, we can ship it as early as this after-
noon.

A: 几天能到上海？
jı̌ tiān néng dào Shànghǎi?
How many days will they take to reach Shanghai?

B: 亲，一至两天哦。
qı̄n, yı̄ zhı̀ liǎng tiān o.
One to two days, dear.

A: 哦。我同事也想买一双，能包邮吗？
o. wǒ tóngshı̀ yě xiǎng mǎi yı̄ shuāng, néng bāoyóu ma?
Ah. My coworker also wants to buy a pair. Can you include
free postage?

B: 亲，不包邮的哦。不过可以送你小礼物。
qı̄n, bù bāoyóu de o. bùguò kěyı̌ sòng nı̌ xiǎo lı̌wù.
We can’t ship them for free, dear, but we can give you a
small gift.

A: 那运费怎么算啊？
nà yùnfèi zěnme suàn a?
Then how are shipping costs calculated?

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). c 2012 Praxis Language Ltd.
 B: 亲，买两双运费是8元。你拍下后，我会帮你修改
运费。
qı̄n, mǎi liǎng shuāng yùnfèi shı̀ bā yuán. nı̌ pāixià hòu, wǒ
huı̀ bāng nı̌ xiūgǎi yùnfèi.
The shipping cost for two pairs of shoes is eight RMB, dear.
After you order them, I can update the price for you.

A: 好的。那我拍了。
hǎo de. nà wǒ pāi le.
OK. I’ll order them.

Key Vocabulary

有货 yǒuhuò to be in stock

亲 qı̄n dear

码 mǎ size

偏 piān to be inclined

标准 biāozhǔn standard

平时 pı́ngshı́ ordinarily

发货 fāhuò to ship goods

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). c 2012 Praxis Language Ltd.
 付款 fùkuǎn to pay

至 zhı̀ to

包邮 bāoyóu free postage

运费 yùnfèi shipping cost

算 suàn to calculate

拍 pāi to order

拍下 pāixià to place an order

修改 xiūgǎi to revise, to update

Supplementary Vocabulary

淘宝 Táobǎo Taobao

没货 méihuò out of stock

尺寸 chı̌cùn measurement

邮费 yóufèi postage cost

包括 bāokuò to include

包含 bāohán to contain

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). c 2012 Praxis Language Ltd.
 运输 yùnshū to transport

拍手 pāishǒu to clap one’s hands

拍卖 pāimài to auction

质量 zhı̀liàng quality

亲切 qı̄nqiè cordial

Visit the Online Review and Discussion (text version). c 2012 Praxis Language Ltd.