超市
chāoshì
The English word 'supermarket' is translated into Chinese as 超市 (chāoshì). Wiktionary also lists 超級市場 / 超级市场 (chāojí shìchǎng).
Meaning: store (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 超市 | chāoshì |
| 超級市場 / 超级市场 | chāojí shìchǎng |
What does it mean word for word?
The common term 超市 (chāoshì) is a contraction of the full term 超级市场 (chāojí shìchǎng). In this full version, 超 (chāo) means 'super/surpass', 级 (jí) means 'level/grade', 市 (shì) means 'market/city' and 场 (chǎng) means 'place/field'.
Which one should you use?
While 超级市场 (chāojí shìchǎng) is the full, formal term, 超市 (chāoshì) is the much more common, everyday way to say 'supermarket' in spoken Chinese.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
超级市场 is the full formal name often seen in written signs or official business contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the term is written as 超級市場 (chāo jí shì chǎng).
How do you pronounce it?
chāoshì
Did you know?
- The word 超市 is a 'calque', meaning Chinese translators took the English word 'supermarket' and translated it literally piece by piece into Chinese characters.
- In China, many 超市 serve as community hubs where you can pay utility bills and top up transit cards at the checkout.
- The character 市 in 超市 also means 'city', reflecting how ancient Chinese markets were the heart of urban administration.
Examples in context
- 你去过超市了吗？Did you go to the supermarket?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has been to a 超市.Tatoeba #10926515 by GlossaMatik, translation #6788779 by CK
- 这里附近有超市吗？Is there a supermarket nearby?This sentence is useful for asking if a 超市 is nearby.Tatoeba #10109526 by ColawithIce, translation #3273057 by CK
- 汤姆在超市偶遇玛丽。Tom happened to meet Mary at the supermarket.This sentence is useful for describing an encounter at a 超市.Tatoeba #1372497 by sadhen, translation #1028776 by CK
- 我去超市买些食物。I'm going to the supermarket to buy some food.
- 请问，附近有没有超市？Excuse me, is there a supermarket nearby?
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
浩然 and 佳怡 are planning their grocery shopping.
- 浩然 Haoran我们要去哪家超市？Wǒmen yào qù nǎ jiā chāoshì?Which supermarket should we go to?
- 佳怡 Jiayi去那家大的超市吧。Qù nà jiā dà de chāoshì ba.Let's go to that big supermarket.
- 浩然 Haoran佳怡，你会开车吗？Jiāyí, nǐ huì kāichē ma?Jiāyí, can you drive?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我会开车的。Wǒ huì kāichē de.I can drive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “supermarket” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 超市, 超級市場, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
