How to say “I want to return this” in Chinese

Word by word

What each part of 我要退这个。 actually means.

• 我wǒI
• 要yàoto want
• 退tuìto return / refund
• 这个zhègethis one

When you use it

• Use it at the shop counter when you are handing back something you bought and want your money back, receipt in hand.
• Chinese shops rarely take returns without the receipt (发票 fāpiào), so keep it until you are sure you are keeping the item — no receipt usually means no return.

Use 我要退这个。 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.

• 我想退掉这个。

  Wǒ xiǎng tuì diào zhège

  I'd like to return this.

  退掉 adds 掉, the completive ending — it sounds slightly more decided, like the matter is closed once you say it.

• 这个有问题，我要退。

  Zhège yǒu wèntí, wǒ yào tuì

  There is a problem with this — I'm returning it.

  Stating the reason in the same breath makes the request harder to wave away; 有问题 (there is a problem) is all the explanation you need.

• 能换一个吗？

  Néng huàn yí ge ma?

  Can I exchange it for another one?

  换 is exchange. Exchanges are easier than refunds in China, so if you only want a working item, ask with 换 before saying 退.

What usually trips people up

• The word on the shop sign is 退货 (tuìhuò, return goods). 退这个 works fine in conversation, but if staff look uncertain, 退货 is the category word that settles what you want.
• 退 is for giving something back to a shop; 还 (huán) is for returning something you borrowed from a person. 还给朋友 means give it back to my friend — using 退 there turns a favor into a business dispute.
• If you specifically want money back rather than a replacement, that word is 退款 (tuìkuǎn, refund). 我要退款 tells the staff you are not interested in exchanging.

What you might hear back

• 有发票吗？Yǒu fāpiào ma?Do you have the receipt?
• 可以退。Kěyǐ tuìYes, you can return it.
• 只能换，不能退。Zhǐ néng huàn, bù néng tuìExchange only — no refunds.

Common questions

How do you say "I want to return this" in Chinese?

"I want to return this" in Chinese is 我要退这个。 — written in pinyin as Wǒ yào tuì zhège. It is a shopping phrase you would use in China.

What does 我要退这个。 mean in Chinese?

我要退这个。 (Wǒ yào tuì zhège) means "I want to return this". Broken down word by word: 我 (wǒ) means "I"; 要 (yào) means "to want"; 退 (tuì) means "to return / refund"; 这个 (zhège) means "this one".

When would you use "I want to return this" in Chinese?

Use it at the shop counter when you are handing back something you bought and want your money back, receipt in hand. Chinese shops rarely take returns without the receipt (发票 fāpiào), so keep it until you are sure you are keeping the item — no receipt usually means no return.

Where you'll use it

我要退这个。 comes up in these situations, in this order.

• 👕 Buying clothes7 steps

More Shopping phrases

• 打折吗？Is there a discount?
• 有大号的吗？Do you have a larger size?
• 可以退税吗？Can I get a tax refund?
• 收现金吗？Do you take cash?