How do you say "Can I try it on?" in Chinese?

"Can I try it on?" in Chinese is 我可以试试吗？ — written in pinyin as Wǒ kěyǐ shìshi ma?. It is a shopping phrase you would use in China.

What does 我可以试试吗？ mean in Chinese?

我可以试试吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ shìshi ma?) means "Can I try it on?". Broken down word by word: 我 (wǒ) means "I"; 可以 (kěyǐ) means "can / may"; 试试 (shìshi) means "to try (reduplicated)"; 吗 (ma) means "question particle".

When would you use "Can I try it on?" in Chinese?

Ask it in a clothing shop when you want to use the fitting room — in many smaller shops the staff will unlock one for you rather than leaving them open. It is also the phrase for trying anything on or out in front of the seller, from shoes to sunglasses to a phone case, where English would reach for several different verbs.

How to say “Can I try it on?” in Chinese

“Can I try it on?” in Chinese is 我可以试试吗？, written in pinyin as Wǒ kěyǐ shìshi ma?.

我可以试试吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ shìshi ma?

Can I try it on?

Word by word

What each part of 我可以试试吗？ actually means.

我wǒI
可以kěyǐcan / may
试试shìshito try (reduplicated)
吗maquestion particle

When you use it

Ask it in a clothing shop when you want to use the fitting room — in many smaller shops the staff will unlock one for you rather than leaving them open.
It is also the phrase for trying anything on or out in front of the seller, from shoes to sunglasses to a phone case, where English would reach for several different verbs.

Use 我可以试试吗？ in shopping situations. Prices, sizes, bargaining and paying.

Other ways people say it

The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.

可以试穿吗？
Kěyǐ shìchuān ma?
Can I try this on?
试穿 is specifically for clothes, so it is the safest choice in a clothing shop.
我能试一下吗？
Wǒ néng shì yíxià ma?
May I give it a try?
试一下 carries the same meaning without the doubling; the repeated 试试 sounds softer and more casual.
试衣间在哪儿？
Shìyījiān zài nǎr?
Where is the fitting room?
The natural follow-up as soon as the answer is yes.

What usually trips people up

试 is not the exam word. 试 means trying something on or out, while 考试 is sitting a test, so 我可以考试吗 in a shop gets a blank look.
The fitting room is 试衣间 as one unit. 试衣 alone does not name a room, and 更衣室 is a changing room for sport, so staff will point you somewhere else.
Do not use this to mean you are still deciding. 试 is a physical try-on; to say you will think it over, use 考虑 (kǎolǜ).

What you might hear back

可以，试衣间在那边。Kěyǐ, shìyījiān zài nàbianSure, the fitting room is over there.
只能试两件。Zhǐ néng shì liǎng jiànYou can only try two pieces.
这个不能试。Zhège bù néng shìThis one can't be tried on.

Common questions

How do you say "Can I try it on?" in Chinese?: "Can I try it on?" in Chinese is 我可以试试吗？ — written in pinyin as Wǒ kěyǐ shìshi ma?. It is a shopping phrase you would use in China.
What does 我可以试试吗？ mean in Chinese?: 我可以试试吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ shìshi ma?) means "Can I try it on?". Broken down word by word: 我 (wǒ) means "I"; 可以 (kěyǐ) means "can / may"; 试试 (shìshi) means "to try (reduplicated)"; 吗 (ma) means "question particle".
When would you use "Can I try it on?" in Chinese?: Ask it in a clothing shop when you want to use the fitting room — in many smaller shops the staff will unlock one for you rather than leaving them open. It is also the phrase for trying anything on or out in front of the seller, from shoes to sunglasses to a phone case, where English would reach for several different verbs.

Where you'll use it

我可以试试吗？ comes up in these situations, in this order.

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