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🛍️English scenario

Grocery Shopping and Asking for Items

Find items, ask staff for locations or recommendations, and understand packaging labels.

Scenario Goal

You will be able to ask where products are, read basic labels, and use self-checkout.

Practice Flow

1

Start with the keywords that show up most often in this situation.

2

Learn the core phrase patterns before you try to respond on your own.

3

Then move into a dedicated practice session for scenario-specific feedback.

Keywords

The words most worth learning first for this situation.

1 / 12
Key Word
🥦

produce aisle

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

蔬果区(超市里放新鲜水果和蔬菜的通道)

The produce aisle is right by the entrance.

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Details

produce aisle

蔬果区(超市里放新鲜水果和蔬菜的通道)

使用说明

超市常把蔬果集中在一个'produce aisle'或'produce section',中国超市可能叫果蔬区,但英语里常说produce aisle,购物时指路非常实用。

例句

The produce aisle is right by the entrance.

蔬果区就在入口旁边。

🧀

deli counter

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

熟食柜台(切肉、切奶酪和熟食的柜台)

I ordered three slices from the deli counter.

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Details

deli counter

熟食柜台(切肉、切奶酪和熟食的柜台)

使用说明

很多超市有一个deli counter可以现切香肠、奶酪或买熟食,跟中国常见的熟食柜台功能类似但英文表达不同。

例句

I ordered three slices from the deli counter.

我在熟食柜台要了三片。

🫘

bulk bin

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

散装槽/散装区(装谷物、坚果等可自取称重的容器)

Scoop some almonds from the bulk bin and weigh them.

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Details

bulk bin

散装槽/散装区(装谷物、坚果等可自取称重的容器)

使用说明

很多国外超市有bulk bins可以自取,结账前需要知道PLU code或称重,非常容易让没有经验的人困惑。

例句

Scoop some almonds from the bulk bin and weigh them.

从散装区舀些杏仁并称重。

🖥️

self-checkout

noun

A useful noun in this situation.

自助结账机(自己扫描、支付和装袋的结账方式)

I'm going to use the self-checkout.

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Details

self-checkout

自助结账机(自己扫描、支付和装袋的结账方式)

使用说明

很多超市有self-checkout,习惯了会快,但要会处理scanner failed、need attendant等提示,常常让新手紧张。

例句

I'm going to use the self-checkout.

我要去用自助结账。

🎫

loyalty card

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

会员卡/积分卡(用于积点或享受会员价格)

Do you have a loyalty card with us?

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Details

loyalty card

会员卡/积分卡(用于积点或享受会员价格)

使用说明

结账时店员会问有没有loyalty card,很多中国顾客第一次遇到会不知道要不要出示或说yes,所以提前准备更省钱。

例句

Do you have a loyalty card with us?

您有我们的会员卡吗?

💲

unit price

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

单价(按重量或单位计算的价格,例如 per 100g / per lb)

Check the unit price to compare brands.

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Details

unit price

单价(按重量或单位计算的价格,例如 per 100g / per lb)

使用说明

货架上常标有unit price,买散装或按重量计价的商品时必须看单价来比较更划算,和包裹总价不同。

例句

Check the unit price to compare brands.

看单价来比较不同品牌。

📅

sell-by date

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

售卖截止日期(商家在此日期前售卖商品,通常用于保鲜期管理)

This yogurt has a sell-by date of next week.

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Details

sell-by date

售卖截止日期(商家在此日期前售卖商品,通常用于保鲜期管理)

使用说明

和use-by不同,sell-by是商家管理货架用的日期,消费者要理解labels上的不同标注避免误解食品是否还能吃。

例句

This yogurt has a sell-by date of next week.

这杯酸奶的售卖截止日期是下周。

use-by date

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

建议食用日期(超过这个日期后不建议食用)

Check the use-by date on the package.

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Details

use-by date

建议食用日期(超过这个日期后不建议食用)

使用说明

use-by对食品安全更重要,超过use-by日期的食品通常不建议食用,注意不要把它和best-before混淆。

例句

Check the use-by date on the package.

查看包装上的建议食用日期。

🔍

UPC code

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

通用产品代码(条形码的一种,用于扫描结账)

The UPC code is printed under the barcode.

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Details

UPC code

通用产品代码(条形码的一种,用于扫描结账)

使用说明

很多外国产品用UPC条码,self-checkout扫描失败时店员可能会手动输入UPC或查价,认识这个词有助于沟通。

例句

The UPC code is printed under the barcode.

UPC编码印在条形码下方。

🔢

PLU code

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

PLU编码(散装蔬果在结账时输入的编号,用于称重计价)

Enter the PLU code for the apples on the keypad.

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Details

PLU code

PLU编码(散装蔬果在结账时输入的编号,用于称重计价)

使用说明

在produce区买苹果、香蕉等散装水果时需要输入PLU code到自助机或交给收银员,很多中国顾客第一次不知道要找这个数字标签。

例句

Enter the PLU code for the apples on the keypad.

在键盘上输入苹果的PLU编码。

🛒

bagging area

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

装袋区(自助机或收银台后面供顾客装袋的空间)

Please put your items in the bagging area after scanning.

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Details

bagging area

装袋区(自助机或收银台后面供顾客装袋的空间)

使用说明

在self-checkout常被要求把商品放到bagging area的秤上以确认重量,新手常不知道要在这放东西或怎样装袋。

例句

Please put your items in the bagging area after scanning.

扫描后请把物品放到装袋区。

rain check

noun phrase

A useful noun phrase for this situation.

促销缺货凭证(商品打折促销但门店缺货时给的纸质或电子凭证)

They offered me a rain check for the sale item.

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Details

rain check

促销缺货凭证(商品打折促销但门店缺货时给的纸质或电子凭证)

使用说明

遇到打折商品缺货时美国等地经常提供rain check,允许你之后按促销价购买或保留优惠,很多初来者不知道可以请求这个凭证。

例句

They offered me a rain check for the sale item.

他们给了我那个促销商品的rain check。

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How To Say It

Use these natural phrases to sound confident in real situations.

1Survival phrases
Wherekey phrase can I find the milk?
💡

Why it works

This phrase is clear, natural, and easy to use in this situation.

Don't Say This

Common mistakes and how to sound more natural.

How much it is?

Say instead

How much is it?

I want to find where the milk.

Say instead

Can you tell me where the milk is?

One kilo apple

Say instead

One kilo of apples

Scanner not read

Say instead

The scanner won't read the barcode

Quick Recap

Keep these points in mind before you start.

Key Takeaways

🎯

Situation goal

You will be able to ask where products are, read basic labels, and use self-checkout.

🗣️

Useful phrase

Start with a line like "Where can I find the...".

Stay natural

Use clear, polite wording that matches the context instead of translating too literally.

Key Phrases to Know

  1. 1

    Where can I find the...

  2. 2

    What's the unit price on this?

  3. 3

    The scanner won't read the barcode

Cultural Note

在英语国家的大型超市里,self-checkout很普遍,顾客需自己扫描和装袋;如果遇到技术问题可以叫attendant帮忙。另外,'rain check'是处理促销缺货的常见政策,记得询问以保留折扣。

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