讨价还价

• Pinyin: tǎo jià huán jià
• Hanzi breakdown: 讨 = to ask; 价 = price; 还 = to return; 价 = price — asking and counter-offering

Meaning

To bargain; to haggle; to negotiate a price.

A common practice in traditional Chinese markets and some shops. Also used metaphorically for negotiating terms in business or other contexts. Involves back-and-forth between seller's asking price and buyer's offer.

Examples

1. 在这种小商品市场买东西一定要讨价还价，标价都是虚高的。 When shopping at this kind of small goods market, you must bargain — the listed prices are all inflated.
2. 她讨价还价的本事一流，最后把价格砍到了原来的一半。 She's a first-class haggler and ended up cutting the price in half.
3. 这件事情没有讨价还价的余地，必须按规定办。 There's no room for negotiation on this matter — it must be done according to regulations.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, markets, negotiation

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 这里可以讨价还价吗？(Can I bargain here?)
• 别跟我讨价还价。(Don't haggle with me.)

Don't Say

• 在明码标价的正规商店讨价还价 (Don't bargain in stores with fixed prices — it's considered inappropriate)

Origin & History

讨价 means to ask the price, 还价 means to return with a counter-price — the back-and-forth of bargaining.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal