Knowing the "secret" of cutting prices in Chinese will help you enjoy your shopping fun. Liao Xianwang / For China Daily

An expert shopper isn't always an expert bargainer. Learn the tricks of the trade from Zhang Ayi, a woman who's a legend at both.

购物行家不一定就是砍价高手。让我们跟随张阿姨一起，学习砍价秘籍吧。

I was never very good at bargaining. Every time girlfriends asked what I paid for a new jacket, which always happens here, I'd lie, offering up a third of what I actually paid. They'd still tell me, with an obnoxious sniff, that I was pranked. This smarts.

My humiliation lasted until I met Zhang Ayi, who is a born bargainer. Zhang Ayi can walk into any tourist market, anywhere in the world, and always emerges with amazing local crafts and an almost-unscathed wallet. She used observation, performance, drama, and guts to cut prices. She embarked on long, arduous battles that put patience and energy to the test.

Once you're in the stall, that's when the techniques and scripts start to matter. First, remember never to show you're interested. For such a widely known rule, this is always the first to be forgotten.

Buyer: Hrm, that's a funny-looking scarf. How much is it?

Zhè tiáo wéijīn kàn qǐlái hái xíng。Duōshǎo qián ā?

这条围巾看起来还行。多少钱啊?

Whatever price they give, play the role of the shocked customer, and up the drama. Really twist your face up at the price.

Buyer: That expensive? That doesn't make sense at all.

Zhème guì?Tài lípǔ le!

这么贵?太离谱了!

Vendor: Seriously, I'm already giving you a discount. In most cases I tell people 1,000. I'll be totally frank with you: The lowest price I can take is 700. How about that?

Wǒ yǐjīng ràng zhe nǐ le, gēn biérén wǒ dōu shuō 1,000 ne。Zhèyàng ba, wǒ gěinǐ gè shíjià, qībǎi nǐ náqù ba。

我已经让着你了，跟别人我都说1,000呢。这样吧，我给你个实价，700你拿去吧。

Buyer: It is still way too expensive.

Qībǎi háishì tàiguìle.

700还是太贵了。

Now they'll ask you, as if it's been scripted out (which it has), how much you're willing to pay.

Vendor: So how much you want to pay for it?

Nà nǐ yuànyì chū duōshǎo qián?

那你愿意出多少钱?

Don't reply. Ignore them, as you keep looking around, murmuring to yourself or your friend that the shopkeeper is far too greedy for a sincere, honest customer like yourself.

Buyer: You are not being very sincere.

Lǎobǎn, nǐ zhègerén zhēn bù shízài。

老板，你这个人真不实在。

This is a game, and you're going to have to be bold at this point.

Walk to the door, as they continue to ask what your best price is. Don't be shy. Offer a sixth of the asking price.

Vendor: Do you really want this one? If you do, what's an acceptable price?

Nǐ chéngxīn xiǎng mǎi ma? Chéngxīn xiǎng mǎi de huà jiù gěi gè jià ba。

你诚心想买吗?诚心想买的话就给个价吧。

Buyer: I'd rather not. Why waste your time offering a price we can't possibly agree on?

Búyòng le, wǒ shuōle nǐ yě búhuì dāyìng de。

不用了，我说了你也不会答应的。

Vendor: It doesn't matter, just go ahead.

Méi guānxi, nǐ shuō ba.

没关系，你说吧。

Buyer: It's only worth 100 kuai to me.

Wǒ kàn tā yě jiù zhí yìbǎi kuài.

我看它也就值100块。

Some shop owners will accuse you, at this point, of not being sincere and honest. They'll insist the quality is unrivaled.

Vendor: You must be kidding me. This is such a well-made product. You won't find something like it anywhere else. Look, it's not easy for me to make a living nowadays.

Kāi shénme wánxiào? Nǐ kànkan zhè zhìliàng, bié jiā de dōngxi méifǎ bǐ。Xiànzài zuò shēngyi bù róngyì。

开什么玩笑?你看看这质量，别家的东西没法比。现在做生意不容易。

All of these may sound like refusals, but they're all complete confirmations that your offer was reasonable. Stand firm.

Buyer: My friend bought exactly the same thing, for this price. Anyway, I don't think the color is quite right.

Wǒ de péngyou yě mǎile yíyàng de dōngxi, jiù huāle zhème duō qián。Zàishuō, tā de yánsè bú tài zhèng。

我的朋友也买了一样的东西，就花了这么多钱。再说，它的颜色不太正。

If your offer wasn't reasonable, the reaction will probably be silence, accompanied by a cold stare and a hand pointing toward the door. But don't take them personally - it's just another part of the play.

If you receive this reaction, ask for the lowest price he is willing to offer. At this point, usually it will be a more reasonable price.

If the bargaining battle reaches an impasse, it's time to slowly wander to the exit, shaking your head woefully.

Buyer: I'm not in desperate need of scarf, anyway. I'll check out what some of the other shops have to offer.

Wǒ yě bù zháojí yào。Háishì qù biéjiā kànkan ba。

我也不着急要，还是去别家看看吧。

If all goes according to script, just as you're stepping beyond hearing distance, the shop owner will yell out to you.

Vendor: Alright, alright! Add an extra 5 yuan, and it's yours.

Hǎoba hǎoba, zài jiā wǔkuài jiù gěinǐ!

好吧好吧，再加五块就给你!

Don't surrender! You're only one step from triumph. Take another step away from the shop, with your ears perked up. Listen intently, as you win the prize.

Vendor: Okay already, come back and take it. It's yours.

Hǎoba, jiāoqián ba! Gěinǐ dài yíjiàn。

好吧，交钱吧！给你带一件。

Courtesy of The World of Chinese, www.theworldofchinese.com