买一款新游戏
Buying a new game · a free Mandarin Chinese immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
请问这款游戏多少钱?
Excuse me, how much does this game cost?
Literal Please ask — this (model) game how much money?
A polite opening for any price inquiry. 请问 signals courtesy, while 多少钱 is the go-to price question.
- 请问 (qǐng wèn) = 'excuse me / may I ask' — standard polite opener in shops
- 这款 (zhè kuǎn) = 'this (model/style)' — 款 is the measure word for product models
- 多少钱 (duōshao qián) = 'how much money' — fixed phrase for asking prices
这款游戏现在非常流行。
This game is very popular right now.
Literal This (model) game right-now extremely popular.
A clerk might say this to recommend a title. 非常 is stronger than 很 and common in enthusiastic recommendations.
- 非常 (fēicháng) = 'extremely / very' — stronger intensifier than 很
- 流行 (liúxíng) = 'popular / trendy' — works for games, music, fashion
我想买一款适合我手机的游戏。
I want to buy a game that's compatible with my phone.
Literal I want buy one (model) suitable-for my phone's game.
Uses a relative clause before the noun. In Mandarin, modifiers come before the word they describe, connected by 的.
- 想 (xiǎng) = 'want to' — expresses desire or intention
- 适合 (shìhé) = 'suitable for / compatible with'
- 的 (de) links the modifier phrase to the noun 游戏 at the end
这两款游戏,哪个更好玩?
Between these two games, which one is more fun?
Literal These two (model) games — which one more fun-to-play?
A natural comparison question for a store clerk. 哪个 asks 'which one' and 更 signals the comparative.
- 哪个 (nǎ ge) = 'which one' — general-purpose choice question word
- 更 (gèng) = 'more / even more' — used to compare two things
- 好玩 (hǎo wán) = 'fun to play' — literally 'good play'
我觉得这款游戏比那款便宜。
I think this game is cheaper than that one.
Literal I feel this (model) game compared-to that (model) cheap.
Introduces the core 比 comparison pattern. 我觉得 softens the statement as a personal opinion.
- 我觉得 (wǒ juéde) = 'I think / I feel' — expresses personal opinion
- 比 (bǐ) = 'than / compared to' — A 比 B + adjective is the standard comparison structure
- 便宜 (piányí) = 'cheap / inexpensive'
如果今天买,有没有折扣?
If I buy today, is there a discount?
Literal If today buy — have or not have discount?
A conditional question. 有没有 is a compact way to form a yes/no question by pairing the positive and negative forms.
- 如果 (rúguǒ) = 'if' — opens a conditional clause
- 有没有 (yǒu méiyǒu) = 'is there or isn't there' — affirmative-negative yes/no question
- 折扣 (zhékòu) = 'discount'
这个游戏支持多人在线吗?
Does this game support multiplayer online?
Literal This (measure word) game support many-people online (question particle)?
Appending 吗 to a statement turns it into a yes/no question — one of the simplest question patterns in Mandarin.
- 支持 (zhīchí) = 'to support' — used for features, policies, and causes
- 多人在线 (duōrén zàixiàn) = 'multiplayer online'
- 吗 (ma) = question particle that converts a statement into a yes/no question
我喜欢冒险类游戏,你们有推荐的吗?
I like adventure games — do you have any recommendations?
Literal I like adventure-type games — you-all have recommended (ones) (question particle)?
Expresses a preference to help the clerk narrow down options. 类 classifies genre, and 推荐的 means 'recommended ones'.
- 我喜欢 (wǒ xǐhuān) = 'I like' — fundamental preference expression
- 冒险类 (màoxiǎn lèi) = 'adventure genre' — 类 = 'type / category'
- 推荐的 (tuījiàn de) = 'recommended ones' — 的 nominalizes the verb phrase
买了以后如果不喜欢,可以退款吗?
If I don't like it after buying, can I get a refund?
Literal Buy (completed) after — if not like — can refund (question particle)?
Combines two key patterns: 了以后 (after doing something) and a conditional with 如果. Essential for any purchase.
- 了以后 (le yǐhòu) = 'after (completing an action)' — aspect marker 了 + temporal word 以后
- 如果…可以… (rúguǒ…kěyǐ…) = 'if…can…' — conditional structure
- 退款 (tuìkuǎn) = 'refund' — 退 (return) + 款 (money)
好,我决定买这款游戏,请帮我结账。
Alright, I've decided to buy this game — please help me check out.
Literal Good — I decide buy this (model) game — please help me settle-account.
The natural closing line of a purchase. 请帮我 is a polite request formula, and 结账 is the standard phrase for checking out.
- 决定 (juédìng) = 'to decide' — signals a final choice
- 请帮我 (qǐng bāng wǒ) = 'please help me' — versatile polite request
- 结账 (jiézhàng) = 'to check out / settle the bill'
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
游戏
game
这款游戏很好玩。
This game is a lot of fun.
yóuxì — covers video games, board games, and games in general
款
measure word for styles or models
我想买那款游戏。
I want to buy that (model of) game.
kuǎn — used for products and designs; contrast with 个 (general counter)
多少钱
how much (money)
这个多少钱?
How much is this?
duōshao qián — essential fixed phrase; attach directly after the item
折扣
discount
今天有折扣吗?
Is there a discount today?
zhékòu — also say 打折 (dǎ zhé) = 'on sale / discounted'
比
than / compared to
这个比那个便宜。
This one is cheaper than that one.
bǐ — core comparison word; pattern is A 比 B + adjective
推荐
to recommend
你推荐哪款游戏?
Which game do you recommend?
tuījiàn — doubles as a noun: 有推荐吗 = 'any recommendations?'
流行
popular / trendy
这款游戏在年轻人中很流行。
This game is very popular among young people.
liúxíng — also means 'in fashion'; used for trends across many domains
退款
refund
我想申请退款。
I would like to apply for a refund.
tuìkuǎn — 退 (return/withdraw) + 款 (money/funds)
决定
to decide
我决定买这个。
I've decided to buy this.
juédìng — also a noun: 做决定 = 'to make a decision'
支持
to support
这款游戏支持双人游戏吗?
Does this game support two-player mode?
zhīchí — used for features, platforms, and emotional support alike
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
小明和朋友去游戏店看新游戏。店员推荐了两款很流行的游戏,一款是冒险类的,另一款是策略类的。小明问哪个更好玩,店员说冒险类的口碑更好。小明又问有没有折扣,店员说今天打八折。最后,小明决定买冒险类游戏,还问了退款政策,然后愉快地结账了。
Sentence by sentence
小明和朋友去游戏店看新游戏。
Xiao Ming and his friend went to a game store to look at new games.
去…看 (go somewhere to look/see) links a destination with a purpose in one natural phrase.
店员推荐了两款很流行的游戏
The clerk recommended two very popular games
了 after 推荐 marks a completed action. 两款 uses 款 as the measure word for product models.
一款是冒险类的,另一款是策略类的。
one was an adventure type and the other was a strategy type.
一…另一… (one…another…) is a tidy contrast pattern. 类的 = 'of [genre] type'.
小明问哪个更好玩
Xiao Ming asked which one was more fun
哪个更… = 'which one is more…' — the standard comparative question form.
店员说冒险类的口碑更好。
the clerk said the adventure game had better word-of-mouth.
口碑 (kǒubēi) = 'word-of-mouth reputation / public reviews' — a natural way clerks express popularity.
小明又问有没有折扣
Xiao Ming then asked if there was a discount
又 = 'again / also / then' — signals a follow-up action. 有没有 = compact yes/no question.
店员说今天打八折。
the clerk said it was 20% off today.
打八折 (dǎ bā zhé) = 'charged at 80% of original price' (20% off). Chinese discounts state what fraction you pay, not what you save.
最后,小明决定买冒险类游戏,还问了退款政策,然后愉快地结账了。
In the end, Xiao Ming decided to buy the adventure game, asked about the refund policy, and happily checked out.
最后 = 'finally'. 还 = 'also / in addition'. 愉快地 = 'happily' — adverb formed by adding 地 to an adjective.
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Comparison with 比: A 比 B + adjective
To say 'A is more [adjective] than B', place 比 between the two things being compared and follow with the adjective in its base form. Unlike English, you do NOT say 'more + adjective'. You can add 更 before the adjective for extra emphasis, or add a small difference at the end (e.g., 一点 'a little', 多了 'a lot more').
A + 比 + B + (更) + adjective (+ 一点 / 多了)
这款游戏比那款便宜。
This game is cheaper than that one.
冒险类游戏比策略类游戏更好玩。
Adventure games are more fun than strategy games.
今天的价格比昨天低一点。
Today's price is a little lower than yesterday's.
网上买比在店里便宜多了。
Buying online is a lot cheaper than buying in-store.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to English: 如果今天买,有没有折扣?
Hint 折扣 = discount; 有没有 = is there / do you have
Complete the sentence with the correct comparison word: 我觉得这款游戏 ___ 那款便宜。
Hint The grammar pattern for this lesson is A ___ B + adjective.
Translate to Mandarin: I want to buy a game that is suitable for my phone.
Hint 适合 = suitable for; 款 is the measure word for items like apps or products
Which sentence correctly uses 比 to compare two games?
Rewrite using the 比 comparison pattern: 冒险游戏很好玩。策略游戏没那么好玩。(Adventure games are fun. Strategy games are not as fun.)
Hint Combine both ideas into one sentence: A 比 B + adjective
That’s today’s phraseberry.
Nice work, you understood something real today. Come back tomorrow for a fresh one.
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