Finder SpreadsheetSeller and support phrases, with your next move
Chat replies arrive in compressed shorthand that machine translation mangles. These are the stock sentences, what they commit the other side to, and what to answer.
The phrase lookup
These eight examples cover useful recurring types of seller and buying-team messages. Match yours below; the answer gives the literal text, the practical meaning, and the reply that moves things forward.
qīn, zhèbiān jiànyì pāi dà yī mǎ o
Dear, we suggest ordering one size up.
拍 means placing the order here. The seller is making a sizing suggestion.
Ask for the measurements of the suggested size, compare them with your intended fit and state the exact size if you change it.
Tone markers: the words that are not words
Chinese commercial chat is padded with affect particles that translation engines render literally or drop. 亲 (qin, dear) opens nearly every seller message; it is the retail register of dear, drained of meaning through use, and signals nothing about your case. Sentence-final 哦 and 哈 soften statements the way a smiley would; their presence or absence does not reliably establish the seller’s attitude.
The particle worth genuine attention is 建议 (jianyi, suggest) before a verb: it marks a suggestion the seller expects you to follow, as in the size-up advice from the lookup above. Treat the suggestion as a reason to ask for measurements rather than as a substitute for them.
Size talk: the three verdicts
Literally: runs small
On a real order: The seller or reviewer describes the cut as small. Ask for actual garment measurements before choosing a different size.
If you misread it: Neither the label nor the phrase proves fit. Compare measurements first; any later exchange depends on the item, timing and seller terms.
Literally: runs large
On a real order: The opposite verdict, common on oversized street cuts where the fit is the point.
If you misread it: Sizing down an intentionally oversized cut lands you a regular fit you did not want.
Literally: broken size run
On a real order: The size run has gaps: your size sold out while others remain. Often paired with discounts to clear the remainder.
If you misread it: A discounted listing missing your size is not a bargain; it is inventory clearing that tempts you into the wrong size.
All three verdicts appear in review sections too, where buyers repeat them with measurements. A review saying 偏小一码 (pianxiao yi ma, runs one size small) plus a height and weight is one useful fit clue to compare with the actual size chart.
Talking to the buying team
Support chat runs 9am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, BST, per the official contact page, with [email protected] for cases and a Discord for the community channel. You can write to them in English; the point of knowing the Chinese is reading what sellers said, not performing it back.
When a keyword search fails, the official catalogue article’s advice applies: hand the problem to support. Give them the article number, a photo, or the original listing link; they search channels the public bar does not reach.
One asymmetry to respect: support mediates between you and the seller, and the official 1688 rules are explicit that quantity and quality disputes get coordinated, not simply refunded. Clear remarks before purchase beat eloquent complaints after.
Remark templates worth copying
The remark field, 备注 (beizhu, remark), is read by the buying team and relayed to sellers. Chinese is optional but removes one relay hop. Five templates that cover most needs:
On a small screen, scroll to read every column.
| Template | It asks for | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 要原盒包装，不要压箱 | Original box, do not crush it | Sneakers and collectibles where the box is part of the value |
| 如无现货请先联系我，不要拍预售 | Contact me before substituting presale | When the variant picker mixes stock and presale rows |
| 按商品页尺码表拍 L 码 | Size L per the listing size chart | When letter sizes and GB codes coexist on one listing |
| 不要剪吊牌，保留所有标签 | Keep all tags attached | Anything you might exchange; de-tagged garments lose return eligibility |
| 易碎品，请加固包装 | Fragile, reinforce packaging | Ceramics, figures, perfume bottles; pairs with the paid reinforcement option |
Keep requests short and unambiguous. Number distinct instructions and ask whether the seller or warehouse can fulfil them; a remark alone does not guarantee execution.
Ask a question the seller can answer
Instead of “will it fit?”, give the selected size and ask for one measurement: 请问 L 码平铺胸宽和衣长是多少厘米？ means “What are the flat chest width and garment length of size L in centimetres?” Compare that answer with a garment you own; it is more actionable than a general size-up suggestion.
“Yes” needs the question beside it
A reply such as 可以 (“can” or “okay”) may answer only the last question in a long message. If you asked about colour, size and dispatch together, do not assume one short reply confirms all three. Quote the exact variant and ask the buying team to confirm any unanswered detail.
Use 请按这个链接的黑色 L 码下单，不要替换其他颜色或尺码。 for “Please order black, size L from this link; do not substitute another colour or size.” Add the link and the listing’s actual option text. This is a request, not proof of acceptance; save the specific confirmation with the order.