hundredwords

What does the cashier at FamilyMart or 7-Eleven in China ask you?

Expect to hear 要加热吗？ (yào jiārè ma, "Shall I heat it up?"), 要袋子吗？ (yào dàizi ma, "Do you want a bag?"), 有会员吗？ (yǒu huìyuán ma, "Are you a member?"). Useful things to say: 有水吗？ (yǒu shuǐ ma, "Do you have water?") and 这个多少钱？ (zhège duōshao qián, "How much is this?").

The whole conversation: At FamilyMart or 7-Eleven

A late snack from the convenience store. You pay, and then the questions start.

  1. You say
    有水吗？ yǒu shuǐ ma Do you have water?
  2. You say
    这个多少钱？ zhège duōshao qián How much is this?
  3. You hear
    要加热吗？ yào jiārè ma Shall I heat it up?

    They microwave buns, dumplings and rice boxes for you at the till.

  4. You hear
    要袋子吗？ yào dàizi ma Do you want a bag?

    Bags cost a few jiao, so they always ask.

  5. You say
    不用，谢谢。 bú yòng, xièxie No need, thanks.
  6. You hear
    有会员吗？ yǒu huìyuán ma Are you a member?
  7. You say
    没有。 méiyǒu No, I'm not.

    The quickest answer to any "do you have ...?" question.

  8. You hear
    微信还是支付宝？ Wēixìn háishi Zhīfùbǎo WeChat or Alipay?
  9. You say
    谢谢！ xièxie Thanks!

Shanghai ear: older staff may greet each other in Shanghainese. 侬好 (sounds like "nong haw") is hello and 谢谢侬 (sounds like "zya-zya nong") is thank you. Answer in Mandarin and they will switch.

Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

What does the cashier at FamilyMart or 7-Eleven in China ask you?

Expect to hear 要加热吗？ (yào jiārè ma, "Shall I heat it up?"), 要袋子吗？ (yào dàizi ma, "Do you want a bag?"), 有会员吗？ (yǒu huìyuán ma, "Are you a member?"). Useful things to say: 有水吗？ (yǒu shuǐ ma, "Do you have water?") and 这个多少钱？ (zhège duōshao qián, "How much is this?").

What does "要加热吗？" mean in Mandarin (China)?

It means "Shall I heat it up?". It is pronounced yào jiārè ma. A natural reply is 不用，谢谢。 (bú yòng, xièxie), "No need, thanks".

What does "要袋子吗？" mean in Mandarin (China)?

It means "Do you want a bag?". It is pronounced yào dàizi ma. A natural reply is 不用，谢谢。 (bú yòng, xièxie), "No need, thanks".

What does "有会员吗？" mean in Mandarin (China)?

It means "Are you a member?". It is pronounced yǒu huìyuán ma. A natural reply is 没有。 (méiyǒu), "No, I'm not".