雜貨店 / 杂货店
záhuòdiàn
In Chinese, grocery store is translated as 雜貨店 / 杂货店 (záhuòdiàn). If unsure, use 雜貨店 / 杂货店. Wiktionary also lists 副食商店 (fùshí shāngdiàn) and 食品商店 (shípǐn shāngdiàn).
Meaning: a store where groceries can be purchased, especially a supermarket (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 雜貨店 / 杂货店 | záhuòdiàn |
| 副食商店 | fùshí shāngdiàn |
| 食品商店 | shípǐn shāngdiàn |
The term is used to describe a store where groceries can be purchased. While it can refer to a general grocery or sundry shop, it is distinct from the more modern term for a supermarket, 超市.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 雜貨店 / 杂货店 is composed of 雜貨 (záhuò), meaning 'miscellaneous goods' and 店 (diàn), meaning 'shop'.
Which one should you use?
雜貨店 / 杂货店 refers to a general grocery or sundry shop, whereas 超市 is the more common term used for a modern supermarket. Additionally, 食品商店 serves as a general term for a shop specializing in food products, while 副食商店 is a more specific, formal term for stores selling food supplies.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
副食商店 is a formal or technical term often used in administrative or official contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
záhuòdiàn
Did you know?
- In mainland China, the term 副食商店 (non-staple food store) historically distinguished shops selling meat and vegetables from those selling 'staple' grains like rice and flour.
- Many traditional 雜貨店 / 杂货店 use a system of 'tabbing' or credit, where neighbors are trusted to pay for their groceries at the end of the month.
- The word 店 (diàn) used in 雜貨店 / 杂货店 is also the root for 'hotel' 酒店 and 'bookstore' 書店, showing that the word for 'shop' covers a vast range of commercial establishments.
Examples in context
- 请问，附近有超市吗？Excuse me, is there a grocery store nearby?
- 我得去菜市場買點東西I need to go to the grocery store to buy some things.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grocery store” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
