How to Say ‘Are you going grocery shopping?’ in Simplified Chinese
您去买菜吗？
nín qù mǎi cài ma
[neen qù mǎicài mah]
🇨🇳 In China: Many retired neighbors head to the morning market every day. Asking about it is a friendly, natural way to make small talk.
Phrase Breakdown
您去
nín qù
you (polite) are going
您 is the polite form of 'you', used for elders. Say it nín qù.
您去医院吗？
Are you going to the hospital?
Words in this phrase
您
nín
[neen]
you (polite)
A respectful form of “you,” used when speaking politely to someone, such as a recruiter or company representative.
很高兴认识您，希望向您多学习。
It’s a pleasure to meet you; I hope to learn more from you.
去
qù
[qù]
to go
Indicates movement or travel from one place to another.
你想去逛逛街吗？
Do you want to go shopping?
买菜吗？
mǎi cài ma
to buy groceries?
买菜 means buy vegetables or groceries, and 吗 makes it a question. Say it mǎi cài ma.
妈妈每天买菜。
Mom buys groceries every day.
Words in this phrase
买菜
mǎi cài
[mǎicài]
to buy groceries
To shop for daily food such as vegetables and meat.
我早上去买菜。
I buy groceries in the morning.
吗
ma
[mah]
question particle (yes/no)
Placed at the end of a sentence to turn it into a yes/no question.
新年你回家了吗？
Did you go home for the New Year?
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