Trying on Clothes

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When shopping for clothes in a store, we often try on an item in different sizes and colors to see which suits us best.

If we can’t find an item in our size, we can approach a shop assistant and ask for help.

店員 dim3 jyun4

haak3

1. 
唔該
m4 goi1,ni1gin6saam1jau5mou5zung1maa5aa3?
excuse methisCLtophavenot havemediumsizeSP
Excuse me. Does this top have medium size?
2. 
ngo5bong1nei5wan2jat1wan2aa1,cing2dang2jat1dang2.
IforyoufindonefindSPpleasewaitonewait
Let me find it for you. Please wait for a while.

A few moments later…

3. 
naa4,ni1gin6zung1maa5ge3.
here you gothisCLmediumsizePart
Here you go. This one is a medium size one.
4. 
唔好意思
m4 hou2 ji3 si1,zung1maa5mou5saai3laa3.
sorrymediumsizenot haveVPSP
Sorry, medium size is all gone already.

If we want to find out what colors are available for a particular design, we can ask:

5. 
唔該
m4 goi1,ni1gin6saam1jau5me1sik1gaa3?
excuse methisCLtophavewhatcolorSP
Excuse me. What colors does this top have?
6. 
唔該
m4 goi1,ni1gin6saam1jau5bin1zek3sik1gaa3?
excuse methisCLtophavewhichCLcolorSP
Excuse me. Which colors does this top have?
7. 
白色黑色
ni1gin6saam1jau5baak6 sik1tung4hak1 sik1ge3.
thisCLtophavewhiteandblackSP
This top has white and black.
8. 
除咗白色
ni1gin6saam1ceoi4 zo2baak6 sik1
thisCLtopapart fromwhite
其他
zung6jau5mou5kei4 taa1sik1gaa3?
in additionhavenot haveothercolorSP
Apart from white,
does this top have other colors in addition?
9. 
黑色
ni1gin6saam1zung6jau5hak1 sik1ge3.
thisCLtopin additionhaveblackSP
This top has black in addition.
10. 
白色
ni1gin6saam1dak1baak6 sik1zaa3.
thisCLtoponly havewhiteSP
This top has white only.

In some stores, we will take clothes to the fitting room and try them on ourselves. If we can’t find the fitting room, we can ask the shop assistant.

11. 
唔該試身室邊度
m4 goi1,si3 san1 sat1hai2bin1 dou6aa3?
excuse mefitting roombe atwhereSP
Excuse me. Where is the fitting room?
12. 
唔該邊度試身室
m4 goi1,bin1 dou6jau5si3 san1 sat1aa3?
excuse mewherehavefitting roomSP
Excuse me.
Where has the fitting room? [= Where is the fitting room?]
13. 
呢邊
ni1 bin6aa1.
this waySP
This way, please.
14. 
嗰邊
hai2go2 bin6.
be onthat side
It is on that side.

Before entering the fitting room, the shop assistant may ask how many items we want to try on.

15. 
請問幾多
cing2 man6si3gei2 do1gin6ge2?
may I asktryhow manyCLSP
May I ask how many pieces of clothing you try on?
16. 
唔該
si3loeng5gin6ge3,m4 goi1.
trytwoCLSPplease
I try two pieces of clothing, please.

After trying on the items, the shop assistant may ask if the items are okay. If we decide to buy them, we can keep the items and take them to the cashier.

17. 
OOK
ou1m4ou1 kei1ge2?
okaynotokaySP
Are they okay?
18. 
OK唔該晒
ou1 kei1aa3,m4 goi1 saai3.
okaySPthank you so much
Yes. Thank you so much.

If we decide not to buy an item, we can say:

19. 
唔該晒
ni1gin6m4jiu3laa3,m4 goi1 saai3.
thisCLnotwantSPthank you so much
For this one, I don’t want it anymore. Thank you so much.
  • When the sentence has the adverb 唔 m4 (‘not’), the meaning of the sentence particle 喇 laa3 changes from ‘already’ to ‘anymore’.

In other stores, we may need to inform the shop assistant if we want to try on an item.

20. 
唔該
m4 goi1,ngo5soeng2si3haa5ni1gin6lau1ge3.
excuse meIwant totryAPthisCLcoatSP
Excuse me. I want to have a try of this coat.
21. 
唔該
m4 goi1,ngo5soeng2si3haa5ni1loeng5gin6saam1ge3.
excuse meIwant totryAPthistwoCLtopSP
Excuse me. I want to have a try of these two tops.
22. 
唔該
m4 goi1,ngo5soeng2si3haa5ni1gei2tiu4fu3ge3.
excuse meIwant totryAPthisseveralCLpantsSP
Excuse me. I want to have a try of these several pairs of pants.

The shop assistant will then ask for our size.

Tops

23. 
nei5zoek3hoi1me1maa5ge2?
youwearAPwhatsizeSP
What size do you usually wear?
24. 
size
nei5soeng2si3bin1go3saai1 si2ge2?
youwant totrywhichCLsizeSP
Which size do you want to try?
25. 
ngo5zoek3hoi1zung1maa5ge3.
youwearAPmediumsizeSP
I usually wear medium size.
26. 
ngo5soeng2si3zung1maa5ge3.
youwant totrymediumsizeSP
I want to try medium size.

Pants

27. 
幾多
nei5gei2 do1cyun3jiu1ge2?
youhow manyinchwaistSP
How many inches is your waist?
28. 
腰圍幾多
nei5jiu1 wai4gei2 do1cyun3ge2?
yourwaist circumferencehow manyinchSP
How many inches is your waist circumference?
29. 
幾多
nei5zoek3hoi1gei2 do1cyun3ge2?
youwearAPhow manyinchSP
How many inches do you usually wear?
30. 
幾多
nei5soeng2si3gei2 do1cyun3ge2?
youwant totryhow manyinchSP
How many inches do you want to try?
31. 
三十
ngo5saam1 sap6cyun3jiu1ge3.
I30inchwaistSP
My waist is 30 inches.
32. 
腰圍三十
ngo5jiu1 wai4saam1 sap6cyun3ge3.
mywaist circumference30inchSP
My waist circumference is 30 inches.
33. 
三十
ngo5zoek3hoi1saam1 sap6cyun3ge3.
IwearAP30inchSP
I usually wear 30 inches.
34. 
三十
ngo5soeng2si3saam1 sap6cyun3ge3.
Iwant totry30inchSP
I want to try 30 inches.

Shoes

35. 
幾多號
nei5zoek3hoi1gei2 do1 hou6haai4ge2?
youwearAPwhat numbershoeSP
What number do you usually wear for shoes?
36. 
幾多號
nei5soeng2si3gei2 do1 hou6ge2?
youwant totrywhat numberSP
What number do you want to try?
37. 
US
ngo5zoek3hoi1UScat1hou6bun3ge3.
IwearAPUSsevennumberhalfSP
I usually wear US Number 7.5.
38. 
US
ngo5soeng2si3UScat1hou6bun3ge3.
Iwant totryUSsevennumberhalfSP
I want to try US Number 7.5.

If we are not sure about our size, we can ask the shop assistant to take our measurements.

39.   
肯定 / sure
ngo5m4hang2 ding6 / su1 aa4aa3,
Inotbe sureSP
可以
ho2m4ho2 ji5dok6jat1dok6aa3?
cannotcanmeasureonemeasureSP
I am not sure. Can you measure it?

Sometimes, the shop assistant will take our measurements directly without first checking if we know them.

40. 
腰圍呀吓
ngo5bong1nei5dok6jat1dok6jiu1 wai4aa3 haa2.
Iforyoumeasureonemeasurewaist circumferenceSP
I will measure the waist circumference for you.
41. 
尺寸呀吓
ngo5bong1nei5dok6jat1dok6cek3 cyun3aa3 haa2.
IforyoumeasureonemeasuresizeSP
I will measure the size for you.

The shop assistant will then go to get the item in our size.

42. 
gam2ngo5ling1zung1maa5bei2nei5si3haa5aa1,
thenItakemediumsizegiveyoutryAPSP
cing2dang2jat1dang2.
pleasewaitonewait
Then, let me take medium size to you to have a try.
Please wait for a while.

A few moments later…

43. 
naa4,ni1gin6zung1maa5ge3,
here you gothisCLmediumsizePart
nei5si3jat1si3aa1.
youtryonetrySP
Here you go. This one is a medium size one.
Have a try.

Sometimes, the shop assistant will give us our size in a different color to try on first.

44. 
naa4,ni1gin6zung1maa5ge3,
here you gothisCLmediumsizePart
nei5si3jat1si3go3maa5sin1aa1.
youtryonetryCLsizefirstSP
Here you go. This one is a medium size one.
Have a try of the size first.

After we have tried the item on, the shop assistant will check if the size suits us.

45. 
zung1maa5ngaam1m4ngaam1aa3?
mediumsizebe suitablenotbe suitableSP
Is medium size suitable?
46. 
OOK
ni1go3maa5ou1m4ou1 kei1aa3?
thisCLsizeokaynotokaySP
Is this size okay?
47. 
覺得
nei5gok3 dak1ni1go3maa5dim2aa3?
youthinkthisCLsizehowSP
What do you think about this size?

Route A: Suitable

48. 
zung1maa5ngaam1aa3.
mediumsizebe suitableSP
Medium size is suitable.
49. 
OK
zung1maa5ou1 kei1aa3.
mediumsizeokaySP
Medium size is okay.
50. 
啱啱好
zung1maa5ngaam1 ngaam1 hou2aa3.
mediumsizejust rightSP
Medium size is just right.
51. 
啱身
zung1maa5hou2aam1 san1aa3.
mediumsizeveryfit for one’s bodySP
Medium size is very fit for my body.
52. 
舒服
zung1maa5hou2syu1 fuk6aa3.
mediumsizeverycomfortableSP
Medium size is very comfortable.

Route B: Not suitable

53. 
好似
zung1maa5hou2 ci5daai6zo2di1gam2aa3.
mediumsizeseembigAPa bitseemSP
Medium size seems a bit big.
54. 
好似少少
zung1maa5hou2 ci5daai6zo2siu2 siu2gam2aa3.
mediumsizeseembigAPa little bitseemSP
Medium size seems a little bit big.
55. 
好似
zung1maa5hou2 ci5taai3sai3gam2laa3.
mediumsizeseemtoosmallseemSP
Medium size seems too small.
56. 
好似得滯
zung1maa5hou2 ci5sai3dak1 zai6gam2laa3.
mediumsizeseemsmalltooseemSP
Medium size seems too small.

If we want to try another size, we can say:

57. 
唔該
m4 goi1ngo5soeng2si3maai4sai3maa5aa3.
pleaseIwant totryVPsmallsizeSP
I want to try small size as well, please.
58. 
唔該
m4 goi1ngo5soeng2si3maai4daai6maa5aa3.
pleaseIwant totryVPbigsizeSP
I want to try large size as well, please.
59. 
gam2ngo5ling1sai3maa5bei2nei5si3haa5aa1,
thenItakesmallsizegiveyoutryAPSP
cing2dang2jat1dang2.
pleasewaitonewait
Then, let me take small size to you to have a try. Please wait for a while.
60. 
gam2ngo5ling1daai6maa5bei2nei5si3haa5aa1,
thenItakelargesizegiveyoutryAPSP
cing2dang2jat1dang2.
pleasewaitonewait
Then, let me take large size to you to have a try. Please wait for a while.
61. 
唔該
m4 goi1jau5mou5daai6jat1go3maa5aa3?
pleasehavenot havebigoneCLsizeSP
Is there one size bigger, please?
62. 
唔該
m4 goi1jau5mou5sai3jat1go3maa5aa3?
pleasehavenot havesmalloneCLsizeSP
Is there one size smaller, please?
63. 
gam2ngo5ling1baat3hou6bei2nei5si3haa5aa1,
thenItake8numbergiveyoutryAPSP
cing2dang2jat1dang2.
pleasewaitonewait
Then, let me take Number 8 to you to have a try. Please wait for a while.
64. 
gam2ngo5ling1cat1hou6bei2nei5si3haa5aa1,
thenItake7numbergiveyoutryAPSP
cing2dang2jat1dang2.
pleasewaitonewait
Then, let me take Number 7 to you to have a try. Please wait for a while.

If we want to try another color, we can say:

65. 
唔該黑色
m4 goi1ngo5soeng2si3maai4hak1 sik1aa3.
pleaseIwant totryVPblackSP
I want to try black as well, please.
66. 
黑色
gam2ngo5ling1hak1 sik1bei2nei5si3haa5aa1,
thenItakeblackgiveyoutryAPSP
cing2dang2jat1dang2.
pleasewaitonewait
Then, let me take black to you to have a try. Please wait for a while.

A few moments later…

67. 
黑色
naa4,ni1gin6hak1 sik1ge3,nei5si3jat1si3aa1.
here you gothisCLblackPartyoutryonetrySP
Here you go. This one is a black one. Have a try.

If we want to know which color goes well with an item, we can ask:

68. 
可以
ni1gin6saam1ho2 ji5can3me1sik1ge3fu3aa3?
thisCLtopcanmatchwhatcolorPartpantsSP
What color pants can this top match?
69. 
可以白色
ho2 ji5can3baak6 sik1ge3fu3
canmatchwhitePartpants
或者卡其色
waak6 ze2kaa1 kei4 sik1ge3fu3.
orkhakiPartpants
It can match white pants or khaki pants.

If we don’t like the item after trying it on, we can say:

70. 
好似唔係幾
go3fun2hou2 ci5m4 hai6 gei2ngaam1gam2,
CLdesignseemnot quitebe suitableseem
唔該晒
ngo5soeng2zoi3tai2haa5sin1,m4 goi1 saai3.
Iwant tofurtherlookAPfirstthank you so much
The design doesn’t seem quite suitable.
I want to have a further look first. Thank you so much.

If we need more time to think before deciding, we can say:

71. 
OK
ou1 kei1aa3,
okaySP
不過
bat1 gwo3ngo5soeng2zoi3nam2jat1nam2sin1,
butIwant tofurtherthinkonethinkfirst
唔該晒
m4 goi1 saai3.
thank you so much
It’s okay. But I want to think further for a while first.
Thank you so much.

If we decide to buy the item, we can say:

72. 
唔該晒
zau6jiu3ni1gin6laa1,m4 goi1 saai3.
[determination]wantthisCLSPthank you so much
I want this one. Thank you so much.

If we want to check if there is a new one, we can say:

73. 
唔該
m4 goi1jau5mou5san1ge3aa3?
pleasehavenot havenewPartSP
Is there a new one, please?
74. 
checkcheck
ngo5bong1nei5checkjat1checkaa1,
IforyoucheckonecheckSP
cing2dang2jat1dang2.
pleasewaitonewait
Let me have a check for you. Please wait for a while.

Route A: Available

75. 
jau5aa3,ngo5ling1gin6san1ge3bei2nei5aa1,
haveSPItakeCLnewPartgiveyouSP
cing2dang2jat1dang2.
pleasewaitonewait
Yes, let me take a new one to you. Please wait for a while.

A few moments later…

76. 
naa4,ni1gin6san1ge3,
here you gothisCLnewPart
checkcheck
nei5checkjat1checkaa1.
youcheckonecheckSP
Here you go. This one is a new one.
Have a check.
77. 
OK唔該晒
ou1 kei1aa3,m4 goi1 saai3.
okayCLthank you so much
It’s okay. Thank you so much.

Route B: Not Available

78. 
唔好意思
m4 hou2 ji3 si1,mou5saai3san1ge3laa3,
sorrynot haveVPnewPartSP
dak1faan1ni1gin6zaa3.
only haveVPthisCLSP
Sorry. The new ones are all gone already.
We only have this one left.
79. 
其他分店
kei4 taa1fan1 dim3zung6jau5mou5aa3?
otherbranchstillhavenot haveSP
Do other branches still have it?
80. 
尖沙咀分店
zim1 saa1 zeoi2gaan1fan1 dim3zung6jau5.
Tsim Sha TsuiCLbranchstillhave
There are still new ones in the branch in Tsim Sha Tsui.
  • The expression 尖沙咀間分店 zim1 saa1 zeoi2 gaan1 fan1 dim3 means ‘the branch in Tsim Sha Tsui’. This expression is similar to expressions like 前邊間舖 cin4 bin6 gaan1 pou3 (‘the shop in front’) and 左邊間舖 zo2 bin6 gaan1 pou3 (‘the shop on the left’) (See Grammar and Vocabulary 37.2). The only difference is that we put a place name instead of a location expression before the classifier.
81. 
唔好意思其他分店
m4 hou2 ji3 si1,kei4 taa1fan1 dim3dou1mou5saai3laa3.
sorryotherbranchtoonot haveVPSP
Sorry, they are all gone in other branches too.

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