Trying on a shirt | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Trying on a shirt to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我需要一件新衬衫。

Wǒ xūyào yí jiàn xīn chènshān. I need a new shirt.

你想找什么颜色的？

Nǐ xiǎng zhǎo shénme yánsè de? What color are you looking for?

如果有蓝色的，我想要蓝色的。

Rúguǒ yǒu lánsè de, wǒ xiǎng yào lánsè de. Something blue, if you have it.

这里有一件适合你的衬衫。

Zhèlǐ yǒu yí jiàn shìhé nǐ de chènshān. Here is one in your size.

我可以试穿吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ shìchuān ma? Can I try it on?

试衣间就在这边。

Shìyījiān jiù zài zhèbiān. The changing room is just over here.

这件很合身。

Zhè jiàn hěn héshēn. It fits really well.

穿在你身上很好看。

Chuān zài nǐ shēnshang hěn hǎokàn. It looks nice on you.

Word by Word

我 “我” means “I” or “me” in “我需要一件新衬衫” and “我可以试穿吗？”. It appears before the verb when the speaker says what they need or asks to do something. A reusable pattern is 我 + verb, for example when stating a need or making a request.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “我需要一件新衬衫”. It is followed by the thing that is needed, here “一件新衬衫”. A reusable pattern is 我需要 + thing, used when explaining a requirement in a shop or elsewhere.

件 “件” is the classifier used for the shirt in “一件新衬衫”. It comes after the number “一” and before the clothing noun. A reusable pattern is 一件 + clothing item when referring to one piece of clothing.

新 “新” means “new” in “新衬衫”. It comes before “衬衫” to describe the shirt. The pattern 新 + noun is useful when asking for or describing something recently bought or unused.

衬衫 “衬衫” means “shirt” in “一件新衬衫” and “适合你的衬衫”. It names the clothing item being requested and tried on. You can use it after a classifier, as in 一件衬衫, or after a describing phrase.

你 “你” means “you” in “你想找什么颜色的？”. In “适合你的衬衫”, it refers to the customer and appears in “你的” to mean “your”. It is used when a shop assistant asks the customer a question or describes something intended for that customer.

想 “想” means “want” or “would like” in “你想找什么颜色的？”. Here it comes before “找” and expresses what the customer would like to look for. A reusable pattern is 想 + action, used when asking about someone’s intended choice or activity.

找 “找” means “look for” in “你想找什么颜色的？”. The phrase after it, “什么颜色的”, identifies what kind of item the customer is looking for. A reusable pattern is 找 + item, useful when searching for something in a shop.

什么 “什么” means “what” or “which” in “什么颜色的？”. It comes before “颜色” to ask the customer to specify a color. The pattern 什么 + noun is used to ask which item, kind, or information is meant.

颜色 “颜色” means “color” in “什么颜色的？”. It identifies the property the shop assistant is asking about. A reusable pattern is 什么颜色, used when asking which color someone wants or is describing.

的 “的” is a particle with several related functions in this dialogue. In “什么颜色的”, it leaves the clothing item understood after the color phrase; in “蓝色的”, it means the blue one, and in “你的衬衫” it marks possession. These patterns are useful when the noun is already clear or when describing who something belongs to.

如果 “如果” means “if” in “如果有蓝色的”. It introduces the condition that a blue item is available before the speaker states what they want. A reusable pattern is 如果 + condition, followed by the result or request.

有 “有” means “have” or “be available” in “如果有蓝色的” and “这里有一件适合你的衬衫”. In this shop context, it asks or states whether an item is available. A reusable pattern is 这里有 + item when showing that something is available in a place.

蓝色 “蓝色” means “blue” in “蓝色的”. Together with “的”, it identifies the blue item the customer wants, with the clothing noun understood from the context. A reusable pattern is a color + 的 when the item being described is already clear.

要 “要” means “want” or “request” in “我想要蓝色的”. It follows “想” and expresses the item the speaker would like to choose. A reusable pattern is 想要 + item, used when requesting or selecting something.

这里 “这里” means “here” in “这里有一件适合你的衬衫”. It points to the place where the shirt is available. The pattern 这里有 + item is useful when showing someone something nearby.

适合 “适合” means “suit” or “be suitable for” in “适合你的衬衫”. It describes the shirt as suitable for the customer, especially in relation to fit or suitability. A reusable pattern is one item + 适合 + person when saying that something suits someone.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “may” in “我可以试穿吗？”. It asks whether the customer has permission to do the action that follows. The pattern 可以 + verb + 吗 is useful for asking permission politely.

试穿 “试穿” means “try on clothing” in “我可以试穿吗？”. It follows “可以” because the customer is asking for permission to try the shirt on. It is useful in a clothing shop when asking to put on an item before deciding.

吗 “吗” is the yes-or-no question particle at the end of “我可以试穿吗？”. It turns the preceding statement into a question about permission. A reusable pattern is a complete statement + 吗 when asking for a yes-or-no answer.

试衣间 “试衣间” means “changing room” in “试衣间就在这边”. It names the place where the customer can try on the shirt. It is useful when asking for or giving directions to a changing area in a clothing shop.

就 “就” means “just” or “right” in “就在这边”. It emphasizes that the changing room is immediately at the indicated place. The pattern 就在 + location is useful when pointing out that something is nearby or exactly there.

在 “在” indicates location in “试衣间就在这边”. It connects the changing room with the place “这边”. A reusable pattern is a person or thing + 在 + place when saying where something is located.

这边 “这边” means “this way” or “here” in “就在这边”. It points to the nearby side or direction where the changing room is located. The phrase 在这边 is useful when directing someone to a place nearby.

这 “这” means “this” in “这件很合身” and “这边”. In “这件”, it identifies the shirt being discussed; in “这边”, it points to the nearby place or direction. It is useful for identifying a nearby item or location.

很 “很” means “very” or “really” in “很合身” and “很好看”. It comes before the describing word to strengthen the positive description. A reusable pattern is 很 + description, used when giving an evaluation such as fit or appearance.

合身 “合身” means “fit well” in “这件很合身”. It describes the shirt’s fit on the person wearing it. A reusable pattern is clothing item + 很合身, used after trying on clothes and checking the fit.

穿 “穿” means “wear” in “穿在你身上很好看”. Here it describes the shirt being worn on the customer’s body. The pattern 穿在 + person + 身上 is useful when commenting on how clothing appears when someone wears it.

身上 “身上” means “on the body” in “你身上”. Together with “穿在”, it indicates that the clothing is being worn on the customer’s body. A reusable pattern is 在 + person + 身上 when describing something located on or being worn on someone’s body.

好看 “好看” means “look nice” or “be attractive” in “穿在你身上很好看”. It describes the shirt’s appearance when worn by the customer. A reusable pattern is clothing or appearance + 很好看, useful when complimenting someone’s outfit.

Grammar Points

什么 + 名词

什么颜色的衬衫？

Shénme yánsè de chènshān?

What color shirt?

什么 comes before the noun it asks about; 的 links the description to 衬衫.

如果……，……

如果蓝色适合，试穿。

Rúguǒ lánsè shìhé, shìchuān.

If blue suits you, try it on.

如果 introduces an if-clause, which normally comes before the main clause.

Chinese Vocabulary

衬衫 noun

chènshān shirt

合身 adj

héshēn fit well

蓝色 adj

lánsè blue

如果 conj

rúguǒ if

什么 pron

shénme what

试穿 verb

shìchuān try on

试衣间 noun

shìyījiān changing room

适合 verb

shìhé suit; fit

新 adj

xīn new

需要 verb

xūyào need

颜色 noun

yánsè color

找 verb

zhǎo look for

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

blue

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蓝色

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如果

try on

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试穿

need

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需要