The main actions performed in a market are:

1. Buying Things (买 mǎi)

When you want to buy something, you say:

我想买... — Wǒ xiǎng mǎi... — "I want to buy..."

Example from the textbook:

• 我想买一双鞋子。 — Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì shuāng xiézi.
• I want to buy a pair of shoes.

2. Selling Things (卖 mài)

The shopkeeper sells items:

我卖... — Wǒ mài... — "I sell..."

Example:

• 我卖外套。 — Wǒ mài wàitào.
• I sell coats/jackets.

3. Asking for Prices (问 wèn)

When you want to know the price, you ask:

...多少钱？ — ...duōshao qián? — "How much is...?"

Examples:

• 大米一公斤多少钱？ — Dàmǐ yì gōngjīn duōshao qián?

• How much is one kilogram of rice?

• 一双鞋子多少钱？ — Yì shuāng xiézi duōshao qián?

• How much is a pair of shoes?

4. Trying On Clothes/Shoes (试 shì)

Before buying, you often try things on:

试一下 — Shì yíxià — "try it"

Example from dialogue:

• 我试一下。 — Wǒ shì yíxià.
• Let me try it on.

5. Giving Money (给 gěi)

When you pay, you give money to the shopkeeper:

给你钱 — Gěi nǐ qián — "Here is the money"

Example:

• 给你钱。 — Gěi nǐ qián.
• Here is the money (for you).

Study this dialogue from the textbook and identify the actions:

小明： 我想去市场买鞋子，你可以陪我吗？ 丽丽： 是的，我也想买一双袜子。你呢？ 小明： 我想买一双鞋子，也还想买裤子。 丽丽： 那我们一起去吧！ 小明： 好的。

Actions identified:

1. 买 (mǎi) — to buy — appears 3 times
2. 去 (qù) — to go — appears 2 times
3. 陪 (péi) — to accompany — appears 1 time

Complete these sentences with the correct action word:

1. 我 ___ (buy) 一双鞋子。→ 买
2. 老板，你 ___ (sell) 外套吗？→ 卖
3. 这件裤子 ___ (try) 一下。→ 试
4. 大米 ___ (how much)？→ 多少钱
5. ___ (give) 你钱。→ 给

When you go to a market in China, remember these key actions:

• 买 (mǎi) = to buy
• 卖 (mài) = to sell
• 问 (wèn) = to ask
• 试 (shì) = to try
• 给 (gěi) = to give

These words help you buy things, ask for prices, and complete market transactions.

In Tanzania, you can use these Chinese market words when shopping at local markets like Mwanza's B周六 market or when buying goods from Chinese shops. For example, if you want to buy rice (mchele) at a local duka and see a Chinese shopkeeper, you can ask "大米多少钱？" (How much is the rice?) and negotiate using numbers like "三千先令" (3,000 shillings). This skill is useful for small business owners who trade with Chinese merchants or buy Chinese-made products.