Quick Summary
Keywords: gòuwùchē, 购物车, Chinese shopping cart, online shopping cart, Taobao cart, add to cart in Chinese, gou wu che, shopping in China, e-commerce China.
Summary: Learn all about 购物车 (gòuwùchē), the Chinese word for “shopping cart.” This essential term applies to both the physical trolley you push in a supermarket and the digital cart you fill on e-commerce sites like Taobao. Discover its cultural significance in China's massive online shopping festivals like Double 11 and learn how to use it in everyday conversation, from the grocery store to online shopping.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): gòuwùchē
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: A “shopping cart,” used for both physical carts in stores and virtual carts on websites or apps.
In a Nutshell: 购物车 (gòuwùchē) is a straightforward, literal term. It combines the words for “buy,” “things,” and “cart.” Whether you're at a Carrefour in Beijing or browsing the Taobao app on your phone, the container holding your potential purchases is your 购物车. Its meaning is identical in both the physical and digital worlds, making it a crucial vocabulary word for life in modern China.
Character Breakdown
购 (gòu): To buy, purchase. This character is made of 贝 (bèi), which means “shell” and was a form of ancient currency, and a phonetic component. Think of it as using “money” (贝) to buy something.
物 (wù): Thing, object, matter. A very common character found in words like 动物 (dòngwù, animal) and 礼物 (lǐwù, gift). It simply means “stuff” or “things.”
车 (chē): Cart, vehicle. This is a pictogram of a chariot or cart viewed from above, showing the wheels and axle.
When combined, the meaning is transparent: 购 (buy) + 物 (things) + 车 (cart) = A cart for buying things.
Cultural Context and Significance
While a physical 购物车 is a universal concept, the digital 购物车 holds a special place in modern Chinese culture due to the country's colossal e-commerce ecosystem.
In the West, an online shopping cart is a simple utility. In China, it's a centerpiece of massive cultural events. During shopping festivals like 双十一 (Shuāng Shíyī - “Double 11” or Singles' Day), the world's largest shopping event, the act of filling one's 购物车 becomes a national pastime. For weeks leading up to the sale, consumers meticulously research products, compare deals, and preload their carts. The goal is to be ready to click “checkout” (结算, jiésuàn) the second the sale begins, competing with millions of others for limited-stock deals.
Sharing screenshots of a full 购物车 on social media is common, acting as a form of wish list, a humblebrag, or a way to solicit advice. This transforms the 购物车 from a private tool into a social object, a practice far less common in the West. The phrase 清空购物车 (qīngkōng gòuwùchē - “empty the shopping cart”) has even become a popular expression for a generous gift, where someone offers to pay for everything in another person's cart.
Practical Usage in Modern China
The use of 购物车 is split between two main contexts: physical shopping and online shopping.
In a Physical Store
In a supermarket or department store, you use 购物车 to refer to the metal or plastic trolley you push around. It's a neutral, descriptive term.
This is the most frequent context for 购物车 in modern China. On apps like Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo, your digital cart is central to the user experience.
The button to add an item is almost always 加入购物车 (jiārù gòuwùchē).
The icon to view your selected items is labeled 购物车 (gòuwùchē).
It's used in conversations about online shopping, sales, and wish lists.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
请问，购物车在哪里？
Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, gòuwùchē zài nǎlǐ?
English: Excuse me, where are the shopping carts?
Analysis: A standard, polite question to ask an employee in a supermarket.
Example 2:
我把这件衣服加入了购物车，但还没决定要不要买。
Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ zhè jiàn yīfu jiārù le gòuwùchē, dàn hái méi juédìng yào bu yào mǎi.
English: I added this piece of clothing to the shopping cart, but I still haven't decided whether to buy it.
Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the online usage. The structure “把…加入…” (bǎ…jiārù…) means “to add…into…”.
Example 3:
我的购物车已经满了，准备等双十一打折的时候一起结算。
Pinyin: Wǒ de gòuwùchē yǐjīng mǎn le, zhǔnbèi děng Shuāng Shíyī dǎzhé de shíhou yīqǐ jiésuàn.
English: My shopping cart is already full, I'm planning to check out everything together during the Double 11 sale.
Analysis: This highlights the cultural practice of pre-loading the cart for a big sale. 结算 (jiésuàn) means “to settle the bill” or “check out.”
Example 4:
Example 5:
妈妈，这个玩具我可以放进购物车里吗？
Pinyin: Māma, zhège wánjù wǒ kěyǐ fàng jìn gòuwùchē lǐ ma?
English: Mom, can I put this toy in the shopping cart?
Analysis: A simple, real-world example of a child asking to add something to the physical cart.
Example 6:
如果你帮我完成这个项目，我就帮你清空购物车！
Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bāng wǒ wánchéng zhège xiàngmù, wǒ jiù bāng nǐ qīngkōng gòuwùchē!
English: If you help me finish this project, I'll pay for everything in your shopping cart!
Analysis: This shows the modern, slang-like usage of 清空购物车 (qīngkōng gòuwùchē) as a reward or a generous treat.
Example 7:
结账前，请检查一下购物车里的商品数量和价格。
Pinyin: Jiézhàng qián, qǐng jiǎnchá yīxià gòuwùchē lǐ de shāngpǐn shùliàng hé jiàgé.
English: Before checking out, please double-check the quantity and price of the items in your shopping cart.
Analysis: Practical advice you might see on an e-commerce website. 结账 (jiézhàng) is another common word for “to check out.”
Example 8:
这家超市的购物车需要投币才能用。
Pinyin: Zhè jiā chāoshì de gòuwùchē xūyào tóubì cáinéng yòng.
English: The shopping carts at this supermarket require a coin deposit to use.
Analysis: A useful sentence describing a system common in many parts of the world, including some stores in China.
Example 9:
我删除了购物车里所有不必要的东西，只想买我真正需要的。
Pinyin: Wǒ shānchú le gòuwùchē lǐ suǒyǒu bù bìyào de dōngxi, zhǐ xiǎng mǎi wǒ zhēnzhèng xūyào de.
English: I deleted all the unnecessary things from my shopping cart; I only want to buy what I really need.
Analysis: 删除 (shānchú) means “to delete,” a common action in a digital cart.
Example 10:
你看一下我的购物车，帮我参考一下哪件更好看？
Pinyin: Nǐ kàn yīxià wǒ de gòuwùchē, bāng wǒ cānkǎo yīxià nǎ jiàn gèng hǎokàn?
English: Take a look at my shopping cart, help me decide which item looks better?
Analysis: This demonstrates the social aspect of the online cart, used for seeking opinions from friends.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
A common pitfall for learners is confusing 购物车 with similar terms.
The term 购物车 itself is very consistent. The primary nuance is simply being aware of its dual physical/digital meaning and not confusing it with baskets or bags.
购物篮 (gòuwùlán) - The hand-held shopping basket, the smaller alternative to a
购物车.
下单 (xiàdān) - To place an order; the action you take after you are done with your
购物车 and have proceeded to checkout.
淘宝 (Táobǎo) - China's most famous C2C e-commerce platform, where the digital
购物车 is a core feature.
结算 (jiésuàn) - To check out / settle a bill; the final step of a purchase initiated from the
购物车.
包邮 (bāoyóu) - Free shipping; a very important consideration for Chinese consumers when deciding whether to
结算 the items in their cart.
双十一 (Shuāng Shíyī) - “Double 11” (Nov 11), the massive shopping festival where filling and emptying the
购物车 is a key activity.
清空购物车 (qīngkōng gòuwùchē) - “To empty the shopping cart,” often used to mean “pay for everything in the cart” as a grand gesture.
加入购物车 (jiārù gòuwùchē) - “Add to shopping cart,” the literal phrase found on e-commerce buttons.
收藏 (shōucáng) - To favorite/bookmark an item on an e-commerce site, an alternative to adding it directly to the
购物车.
快递 (kuàidì) - Express delivery; the service that brings you the items from your online
购物车.