Shopping
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EN: Use 'need' followed by a noun to express a requirement or desire for something.
I need a glass of water.
EN: 'Hi there!' is a very common, friendly way to start a conversation in a retail setting. It sounds more natural and warm than just saying 'Hi'.
EN: Use 'can help you + verb' to offer assistance to someone. The verb after 'help you' should be in its base form without 'to'.
I can help you carry these bags.
EN: In Western retail culture, staff often greet customers immediately with 'Welcome' or 'Can I help you?' to show they are available, though customers can politely say 'I'm just looking' if they don't need help.
EN: Use 'be + looking for' to talk about something you are trying to find right now.
I am looking for my keys.
EN: In Western retail culture, it is common and polite to respond enthusiastically (e.g., 'Great!') when a shop assistant offers help.
EN: Use 'many' with plural nouns (things you can count) to show a large quantity.
There are many books on the table.
EN: In retail settings, 'Please follow me' is a standard, polite way for staff to lead customers to a specific section of the store.
EN: Use 'one' as a pronoun to avoid repeating a noun that was already mentioned (in this case, 'jacket').
I don't like the red bag, I want the black one.
EN: In Western clothing stores, it is very common to use 'one' to refer to an item you are holding or looking at. Sizes are typically categorized as Small (S), Medium (M), and Large (L).
EN: Use 'What + noun' to ask for specific information about a category (like size, color, or time).
What color do you like?
EN: In Western clothing stores, sizes are typically Small (S), Medium (M), and Large (L). It is common for staff to ask 'What size do you need?' or 'What size are you looking for?'
EN: Use the word 'usually' before the main verb to talk about your habits or things you do most of the time.
I usually drink tea in the morning.
EN: Clothing sizes (Small, Medium, Large) can vary significantly between different brands and countries. In English-speaking countries, it's common to ask 'What size do you need?' or 'What size do you take?'
EN: Use 'in' + [size] to specify the size of a clothing item.
Do you have this shirt in large?
EN: In English-speaking countries, clothing sizes are often referred to by their names (small, medium, large) rather than just numbers. Using 'in' before the size is the standard way to ask for or describe a specific size.
EN: Use 'What is the price of...?' to ask how much something costs in a formal or clear way.
What is the price of this red scarf?
EN: In English-speaking countries, 'What is the price of...?' is slightly more formal than 'How much is...?'. Both are common in retail stores.
EN: Use 'The [adjective] price is [amount]' to state how much something costs under specific conditions.
The total price is twenty dollars.
EN: In English-speaking countries, 'normal price' or 'regular price' is often mentioned before announcing a discount or sale price to show the value of the deal.
EN: Use 'a bit' before an adjective to mean 'a little' or 'slightly'. It makes your opinion sound more polite or less direct.
This room is a bit cold.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, saying something is 'a bit expensive' is a common, polite way to decline a purchase or negotiate without sounding confrontational.
EN: To say something is on sale, use 'percent off'. Note that '30 percent off' means you pay 70% of the original price.
Everything in the store is ten percent off today.
EN: In English-speaking countries, discounts are expressed by how much is 'taken off' the price (e.g., 20% off). In Chinese-speaking cultures, discounts are often expressed by how much of the original price remains (e.g., 8折).
EN: Use 'much' before a comparative adjective (like 'cheaper') to emphasize a large difference.
This phone is much better than my old one.
EN: In English-speaking retail environments, 'I will take it' or 'I'll take it' is the standard idiomatic way to tell a shopkeeper you have decided to buy an item.
EN: Use 'Do you have...' to ask if a shop sells something or if someone possesses an item. Use 'also' to mean 'in addition to' what was already mentioned.
Do you also have hats here?
EN: In English-speaking retail environments, it is common to ask 'Do you have...?' or 'Do you carry...?' when looking for specific items.
EN: Use 'next to' to describe when two things are side by side or very close to each other.
The bank is next to the supermarket.
EN: To compare two things, we add '-ier' to short adjectives ending in 'y' (like 'pretty') and follow it with 'than'.
This box is heavier than that one.
EN: To compare two things, we often add '-er' to short adjectives like 'cheap' to make 'cheaper'.
This blue hat is smaller.
EN: In English-speaking countries, sales staff often use 'only' to emphasize that a price is a good deal or very affordable.
EN: Use 'both A and B' to talk about two things together. It means 'this one AND that one'.
I like both tea and coffee.
EN: Use 'The total is [amount]' to tell someone the final price of everything they are buying.
The total is twenty dollars.
EN: In English-speaking retail culture, staff often use phrases like 'Great choice' or 'Excellent pick' to validate the customer's purchase and build rapport.
EN: Use 'Can I + verb' to ask for permission or to see if something is possible.
Can I sit here?
EN: In many English-speaking countries, 'card' usually refers to either a credit card or a debit card. It is very common to pay by card even for small amounts.
EN: Imperative sentences are used to give instructions or requests. They usually start with a verb. Adding 'Please' makes the request more polite.
Please open the door.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, customers often tap or insert their own cards into the terminal rather than handing them to the cashier.
EN: Use 'Can I have...?' to politely ask for something you want or need in a shop or restaurant.
Can I have a bag, please?
EN: In many English-speaking countries, it is common to say 'please' at the end of a request to show respect to service staff.
EN: Use 'Thank you for + [verb-ing]' to express gratitude for a specific action someone has done.
Thank you for helping me with my bags.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, it is standard customer service to hand over a receipt and thank the customer. The phrase 'Thank you for shopping with us' or 'Thank you for shopping here' is very common at the end of a transaction.
EN: Use 'were' (the past tense of 'are') to describe how someone was or what they did in the past, even if it was just earlier today.
You were very kind to me yesterday.
EN: In Western culture, it is common and polite to use a person's first name when thanking them, especially in customer service settings to show appreciation for their personal effort.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To search for someone or something.
A reduction in the price of something by a specific percentage.
To use a specific method (like a card or cash) to give money for something.
To come after or behind someone.
To decide to purchase a specific item.
A credit card or debit card used as a method of payment.
A specific clothing size category between small and large.