打折

• Pinyin: dǎ zhé
• Hanzi breakdown: 打 = 扌(hand) + 丁 (phonetic); 折 = 扌(hand) + 斤 (axe)

Meaning

To give a discount; to be on sale. Reducing the price of goods.

A verb-object compound commonly used in shopping contexts. The discount system in Chinese uses 折 differently from English: 八折 means 80% of the original price (a 20% discount), 五折 means 50% off. Very common in stores, restaurants, and online shopping.

Examples

1. 这家商场今天全场打折，最低五折。 This shopping centre has store-wide discounts today, up to 50% off.
2. 学生凭学生证可以打八折。 Students can get a 20% discount with a student ID.
3. 打折的时候买东西虽然便宜，但有时候会买太多不需要的。 Although things are cheaper when they're on sale, sometimes you end up buying too many things you don't need.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这件衣服打几折？(How much of a discount is there on this piece of clothing?)
• 会员可以打九折。(Members can get a 10% discount.)

Don't Say

• 说'打折了百分之二十'混合两种说法 (Don't mix the two discount systems — say 打八折 or 优惠百分之二十, but not 打折了百分之二十)

Origin & History

打 (hit/do) + 折 (fold/discount) — literally 'to strike a discount.' 折 originally meant to fold or reduce, which evolved into the meaning of price reduction.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal