It’s no secret that we love shopping for cheap(er) home stuff on Taobao, especially for big ticket items (furniture) and tools that we repeatedly use!
While we’re able to do so because we are comfortable with using Chinese, we do understand the challenges of buying & shipping on Taobao if you’re not. There are also certain terms and phrases which are different from that used in China, which could certainly result in miscommunication.
In this guide, we’ve compiled the most common and useful English keywords that you may use in your Taobao shopping. Feel free to copy & paste these English Taobao keywords for your searches, or refer to this glossary when you’re communicating with your seller!
Interior design styles
Note: 风 and 式 loosely translate to style/aesthetic, hence you can usually find a style by translating the theme you have in mind and then adding either behind the term.
- Buttery, creamy aesthetic: 奶油风
- Bohemian: 波西米亚风
- Contemporary: 欧式
- Farmhouse: 美式乡村／田园
- Japandi:（北欧）日式
- Industrial / loft: 工业风 / 工矿风
- Minimalist: 极简
- Modern: 现代
- Oriental: 中国风
- Quiet luxury: 轻奢
- Retro: 复古怀旧风
- Scandinavian: 北欧现代
- Simple: 简约
- Wabi-sabi: 侘寂
- Vintage: 古董风
Bulky furniture (chair, table, bed etc.)
- Adjustable standing desk: 电动升降桌
- Arm chair: 扶手椅
- Bunk bed: 上下床 / 双层床
- Bed frame: 床架
- Chaise lounge: 躺椅
- Clothes rack: 衣架
- Coffee table: 茶几
- Dining chair: 餐椅
- Dining table: 餐桌
- Dressing table: 化妆台 / 梳妆台
- Gaming / office chair: 电竞椅 / 办公椅
- Kitchen island: 中岛台餐桌
- Massage chair: 按摩椅
- Mattress: 床垫
- Mirror: 镜子
- Sofa: 沙发
- Sofa bed: 沙发床
- TV console: 电视柜
- Work or study desk: 办公桌 / 书桌／学生桌
- Wardrobe: 衣柜
Kitchen & toilet fittings
- Basin: 浴室面盆 / 洗手盆 / 洗手台
- Bidet: 坐浴盆
- Bidet spray: 马桶洗喷枪
- Clothes peg: 挂衣钩
- Drain hair catcher: 浴室拦毛发贴
- Kitchen sink: 厨房水槽
- Tap: 水龙头
- Toilet paper holder: 卷纸架
- Toilet vanity: 浴室柜
- Toilet fittings : 浴室装饰
- Toothbrush holder: 牙刷架
- Towel rack: 浴巾架 / 毛巾架
- Shower head: 花洒喷头
- Shower set: 花洒
- Shower shelf: 浴室置物架
Lighting
- Ceiling light: 天花灯
- Chandelier: 吊灯
- Dining light: 餐厅吊灯
- Lamp shade: 灯罩
- Light casing: 灯架
- Smart lighting: 智能灯
- Standing lamp: 落地灯
- Table lamp: 桌灯
- Track light: 轨道灯
Gym & fitness equipment
- Dumbbell: 哑铃
- Kettlebell: 壶铃
- Gym bench: 健身凳
- Gym mat: 健身房橡胶地垫
- Spin bike: 健身自行车
- Yoga mat: 瑜伽垫
Laundry & cleaning supplies
- Hanger: 衣架
- Laundry colour catcher: 吸色片
- Laundry basket: 洗衣篮
- Laundry pail: 洗衣桶
Kitchen & dining tools
- Airfryer paper: 空气炸锅专用吸油垫纸
- Bowl: 碗
- Colander: 漏勺过滤网
- Crinkle cut tool: 波浪刀
- Cutlery: 餐具 / 刀叉 (knife) 汤勺 (spoon) 筷子 (chopsticks)
- Disposable gloves (food grade): 一次性手套 (食品级家用)
- Glass: 玻璃杯
- Mug: 马克杯
- Oven mitt: 隔热手套
- Placemat: 餐具垫
- Plate: 盘 / 碟
- Rice strainer: 洗米勺
- Trash bag: 垃圾袋
- Trash bin: 垃圾桶
- Vegetable strainer: 洗蔬菜沥水篮
Home decor
- Bath mat: 浴室地垫
- Bean bag: 豆袋
- Blind box: 盲盒
- Carpet (outdoor): 门外入户地毯
- Candle: 香薰蜡烛
- Curtain: 窗帘
- Cushion: 坐垫 / 软垫
- Diffuser (crystals etc.): 无火香薰扩香
- Diffuser machine: 香薰机
- Indoor slippers: 室内拖鞋
- Pillow: 枕头
- POPMART: 泡泡瑪特
- Rug (indoor): 地毯
- Reed diffuser: 扩香棒
- Stool: 凳子
- Tatami: 榻榻米
- Vase: 花瓶
Storage solutions
- Shoe rack: 鞋架
- Storage rack: 储物架
- Storeroom rack: 仓库置物架
Plant & gardening essentials
- Gardening tools: 园艺工具
- Germination/seedling tray: 育苗盘
- Plant pot: 花盆
- Watering can: 喷壶
Material & installation types
- Acrylic: 亚克力
- Canvas: 帆布
- Fur: 毛绒
- Genuine leather: 真皮
- Linen: 亚麻布
- No drilling needed: 免打孔
- Plastic: 塑料
- Rattan: 藤编
- Silicone: 硅橡胶
- Solid wood: 实木
- Stainless steel: 不锈钢
- Synthetic leather: 人造皮
Communicating with seller
Note: You can address the seller as 老板 and they’ll typically address you as 亲 (dear).
- Is there free domestic shipping for the item? 包邮吗?
- Is there ready-stock? 有现货吗?
- What are the packaged dimensions of the item? 请问包装尺寸多少?
- Please reinforce the packaging: 请加固包装
- Bubblewrap: 泡泡膜
- Styrofoam: 保丽龙
- Crate with wooden frame: 打木架
- Can you offer discounts? 可以优惠吗?
- I would like a refund: 我要退款
Reading & giving Taobao reviews
- Fast delivery: 发货很快
- Item does not match description: 描述不相符
- Item is genuine and priced fairly: 货真价实
- Recommend: 推荐
- Encouraged to buy something: 种草
- Discouraged to buy something: 拔草
We hope this glossary list of Taobao keywords will be useful to you! Do let us know if we may have missed out any important ones that you’d like to include 🙂
Do check out our other articles on Taobao hauls & shopping as well!
- We shipped 32 pieces of Taobao furniture with a 3pf – here’s what to note
- Our budget Taobao dining room furniture (click in for exclusive discounts!)
- Our Taobao wedding items guide – high-quality & saved us money!
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