In this guide
How can I clarify a Chinese 1688 listing or supplier reply?
Keep the original wording beside the translation and identify the exact item and variant. Ask one question at a time about the price unit, available quantity or delivery charge. Save the supplier’s specific answer with the item. Follow up on any point a short or ambiguous reply leaves open before relying on it in your order.
Keep the original wording beside the translation
Save the listing link, selected variant and original supplier message alongside your English interpretation. WorldFirst’s New Zealand buying guide recommends simple, concise supplier communication and discusses translation assistance. A translated sentence can help you form a question while leaving the seller’s intended unit or condition unclear. If translations differ on something that affects your purchase, ask the supplier to explain that point before proceeding.
Read buying terms within the seller’s offer
This original reference table gives ordinary language orientation. Use these indicative meanings as prompts for seller questions. Confirm each term against the selected variant, quantity and conditions. A set needs a component list, and shipping included needs a destination. The seller’s offer establishes the applicable terms.
Scroll sideways if needed. Keyboard: focus the table area and use the left and right arrow keys.
| Chinese wording | Indicative English meaning | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| 现货 / 定做 | Available stock / made to order or customised | Is this variant available now, or what work must happen first? |
| 件 / 套 | Piece or item / set | What does one priced unit contain? |
| 起订量 / 起批量 | Minimum order / minimum wholesale quantity | Which product, variant or combination does this minimum cover? |
| 混批 | Mixed wholesale ordering | Which variants or products can be combined under this offer? |
| 发货 | Dispatch or sending out | When will goods leave, and from which location? |
| 包邮 / 运费 | Shipping included / shipping charge | Which address and delivery service does the offer cover? |
Identify the item before asking
Put the listing link, SKU and named variant beside the question. A marked screenshot can locate a selection; retain the text identifier too. If the product came from an image search, establish which offered item the supplier is answering about. State your proposed quantity with its unit. Resolve an uncertain unit first, since a number alone can refer to pieces, sets or cartons.
Name the item and the unit
Keep the original Chinese wording beside the product reference. Ask whether the quoted quantity or price refers to one piece, a set, an inner pack or a carton.
Original message example: clarify the price unit
We wrote these two bilingual examples as suggested wording. Replace the bracketed details and check that the message fits your item. Send one question, then review the reply before adding another. If the reply says set, follow up separately for its components. Keep the answer with the quoted price and variant.
- Chinese:
- 关于[SKU]的[variant]，这个单价是按件还是按套计算的？
- English meaning:
- For [variant] of [SKU], is this price per piece or per set?
Original message example: clarify China delivery charges
Use the confirmed unit with [quantity], and replace [Chinaaddress] with the intended China delivery address. This example asks about one domestic delivery charge. If the seller replies that shipping is included, ask separately which service and destination that covers. Keep international freight as a separate question. Similarly, an answer about dispatch needs a further question if you need to know arrival timing; the two events belong in different fields.
- Chinese:
- 订购[SKU]（[variant]）共[quantity]，发到[Chinaaddress]的运费是多少？
- English meaning:
- What is the shipping charge for [quantity] of [SKU] ([variant]) to [Chinaaddress]?
Turn a vague reply into a specific follow-up
Suppose you ask whether stock is available and whether it can leave on a particular date. A reply of yes leaves you uncertain which point was answered. Ask the stock question alone, then request the proposed dispatch date separately. If a field remains unanswered, mark it pending and decide whether you need that answer before ordering. Where the contact needs to consult someone else, ask who can confirm it and when a response is expected.
Turn a delivery phrase into a confirmed handover
Ask who arranges China dispatch, which address the price covers and which charges remain. Save the supplier's confirmed answer in the order record.
Carry confirmed answers into the order record
Keep a short enquiry log: item reference, original question, original reply, English interpretation and unresolved point. Date the response and identify its sender. Check that the quantity and variant still match your order. Carry confirmed details into the current specification or purchase record, and ask for acknowledgement where needed. Retain earlier messages so a later change can be traced.
Make the supplier question clear before purchasing
Share the listing, selected variant and original supplier reply, along with the detail you need clarified. We can discuss supplier communication and purchasing support for the order.
Questions before you order
Does 件 always mean one complete retail product on 1688?
Treat it as an indication of an item or piece, then ask what the seller counts as one priced unit. Confirm the included parts, accessories and packaging for your selected offer.
Does 包邮 mean delivery from 1688 to the UK is included?
Ask the seller to identify the destination and service included in that offer. Record the China delivery arrangement separately from any international freight quotation.
Can I use these Chinese supplier messages unchanged?
Adapt the placeholders and review the wording for your product. The examples provide a starting point. Check any material uncertainty in the translation and obtain a specific supplier reply before relying on it.
Related visual references
Look more closely at the storage, handling and transport settings that inform an order plan. Each photograph links to its original source.
Sources & further guidance
These references provide platform, payment or import background. The purchasing checklists are our practical guidance. Check the current terms and official requirements for your product and destination.
Product acceptance, inspection scope, charges and delivery arrangements need to be agreed for your order.
