A few clear Mandarin questions can help you begin a conversation in a Foshan showroom. You do not need to conduct a detailed purchasing discussion from memory. Save the Chinese text on your phone, show the sentence when needed and ask the supplier to put important answers in writing.
The phrases below focus on practical shopping decisions: identifying the actual product, understanding a quotation and keeping an order organised. Pinyin provides a pronunciation guide, but the Chinese characters are the more useful fallback when pronunciation is difficult. For specifications, approvals and technical discussions, arrange appropriate language support.
1. I would like to see the actual product
Chinese: 我想看实物。
Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng kàn shíwù.
Use this when a seller shows you a catalogue, rendering or photograph and you want to examine a physical item. The available display may be a different size, finish or construction from the proposed order, so ask the salesperson to identify any differences. Photograph the model reference with permission. Seeing a similar-looking piece is useful, but it does not by itself confirm the specification of the product being quoted.
2. Is this a sample or available stock?
Chinese: 这是样品还是现货？
Pinyin: Zhè shì yàngpǐn háishì xiànhuò?
This question helps distinguish a display sample from goods the supplier can sell from stock. Follow up by confirming the exact quantity, colour and model available. “Available stock” still needs a collection and packing arrangement. If you intend to buy the display itself, identify that specific piece separately and record its condition rather than assuming a new item will arrive.
3. Can I buy just one piece?
Chinese: 可以只买一件吗？
Pinyin: Kěyǐ zhǐ mǎi yí jiàn ma?
Use this early if you are shopping for a single furniture item. The answer concerns the seller's willingness to supply that quantity, not whether international delivery will be economical. If the conversation is about tiles, panels or another product measured differently, show the exact quantity and unit you need. A furniture phrase should not replace a clear area or carton calculation for building materials.
4. What does this price include?
Chinese: 这个价格包括什么？
Pinyin: Zhège jiàgé bāokuò shénme?
Ask this before comparing offers. A displayed bed may include a mattress for presentation while the price covers only the frame. A cabinet offer may exclude handles, internal fittings or packing. Point to the components you expect and ask for an itemised quotation. Write down exclusions as carefully as inclusions so another buyer or your agent can understand the offer later.
5. Please write down the dimensions
Chinese: 请把尺寸写下来。
Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ chǐcùn xiě xiàlái.
Use this to move a conversation from gestures to a usable record. Ask the supplier to identify length, width and height and to state the unit. For fitted products, a drawing is usually more useful than a short handwritten note. Confirm whether the dimensions describe the display item, the proposed finished product or the opening required for installation. Those measurements are not interchangeable.
6. What material is this made from?
Chinese: 这个是什么材料做的？
Pinyin: Zhège shì shénme cáiliào zuò de?
Point to the component you mean. A table may combine several materials, and a cabinet door can differ from its internal structure. Ask the seller to record the relevant material description on the quotation. If the answer is a trade name you do not understand, request a written explanation or sample information. Do not convert an unfamiliar term into a stronger claim yourself.
7. Can I have a colour sample?
Chinese: 可以给我一个色板吗？
Pinyin: Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yí ge sèbǎn ma?
This phrase is useful when you need to compare finishes away from the showroom. Ask whether a sample is available, whether it must be returned and whether a charge applies. Label it with the supplier, material, finish code and date. A small sample helps communication, but ask how the final product may vary, especially where natural materials or textured finishes are involved.
8. Please put the model number on the quotation
Chinese: 请把型号写在报价单上。
Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ xínghào xiě zài bàojiàdān shàng.
Use this before leaving a promising showroom. The model number connects the offer to your photographs and makes follow-up questions easier. Add your own room or product code when coordinating a larger project. If a supplier offers a custom version, ask for the relevant drawing reference as well. A catalogue model alone may not describe the dimensions or finish you eventually approve.
9. When can you deliver the goods?
Chinese: 什么时候可以交货？
Pinyin: Shénme shíhou kěyǐ jiāohuò?
Clarify what the answer means. The supplier may be referring to readiness at the factory, local handover or another stage. Ask what must happen before the period begins, such as drawing or sample approval. Keep production readiness separate from onward shipping and final arrival. A date spoken during a showroom conversation should be confirmed in the written order schedule.
10. Can you label the boxes by room?
Chinese: 可以按房间给箱子贴标签吗？
Pinyin: Kěyǐ àn fángjiān gěi xiāngzi tiē biāoqiān ma?
This is useful for whole-house or hotel orders where the receiving team needs to identify which items belong together. Provide the room codes you want used and ask how the labels will connect to the packing list. Agree a method for components packed separately. Clear labels are especially valuable when several suppliers send similar-looking cartons to the same consolidation location.
Turn a helpful conversation into a clear record
Show one question at a time and allow the seller to answer fully. If the response is important to the purchase, request it in writing beside the relevant product reference. Keep measurements, model numbers and finish codes together rather than storing them in unrelated chats.
For a substantial order, these phrases are a starting point for communication. They do not replace careful translation of specifications or a shared understanding of the final order. Prepare your shopping list before the visit and use our Foshan market guide to organise the destinations around the products you need.