Chinese for English speakers Clothes · Lesson 7

Change size

Sizes in Chinese — 小号太紧, 不太舒服 (S size is too tight, uncomfortable) — and request 中号 (M).

Conversation

  1. Rocky Rocky

    小号太紧，不太舒服。

    xiǎo hào tài jǐn, bú tài shū fu.

    The S size is too tight, I don't feel comfortable.

    Tip: 小号 <xǐaohào> = small size, S size 紧 <jǐn> = tight, close-fitting 舒服 <shūfu> = comfortable

  2. Rocky Rocky

    麻烦你去找中号吧！

    má fàn nǐ qù zhǎo zhōng hào ba!

    Can you get me the M?

    Tip: 中号 <zhōnghào> = medium size, M size

  3. Shelladonna Shelladonna

    好的。红色的还是黑色的呢？

    hǎo de. hóng sè de hái shì hēi sè de ne?

    Sure. Red or black?

    Tip: 红色 <hóngsè> = red colour 黑色 <hēisè> = black colour

  4. Rocky Rocky

    红色的吧！

    hóng sè de ba!

    Red.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

Chinese clothing sizes?

小号 (S), 中号 (M), 大号 (L), 加大 (XL). Also actual numbers like 35, 38 used.

What is 紧?

'Tight'. 太紧 = 'too tight'. Opposite: 松 (loose). 紧身 = tight-fitting.

What does 不太舒服 mean?

'Not very comfortable'. 不太 = not too, 舒服 = comfortable. Soft criticism.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Chinese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

Next lesson in Clothes Can I change it? →