The perks of shopping on Taobao are plenty: the broad range of fabulous furniture, the ability to bulk buy from China for cheap, and countless discounts. However, if you don’t speak Chinese, it also unlocks a new level of confusion.
Sure, you can always switch to the English version, but that means missing out on better search results and shopping deals which can only be found on the Chinese site. So, to save you the struggle of scrolling and Google translating, we’ve put together a guide to useful Taobao keywords to help you get straight to the good stuff.
P.S: Deploy the help of our Taobao furniture guide to furnish your home with the best Taobao buys in no time.
What is Taobao keyword search & how does it work?
First things first: you don’t need to plug lengthy phrases into the search bar. Searching on Taobao works best when you string short and direct keywords together. For example, minimalist (极简) + sofa (沙发). If tight space is your concern, add small space (小户型) into your keyword.
To save you time and for your sanity, avoid browsing categories on the site. There’s a labyrinth of listings under each category, and a few scrolls can leave you more perplexed than when you started. For the most comprehensive search results and best prices, you’ll need to set your location as Mainland China, with Chinese as your default language.
With the Taobao English version, searching using English keywords is possible. That said, you’ll usually get limited options and different prices. That’s because most Taobao listings are written in Chinese and the site is optimised for Chinese search results. In other words, if you want the most relevant results, you’ll have to search like a local.
Essential Taobao keywords for different categories
Without further ado, here’s a nifty Taobao keywords glossary for you to copy and paste into the search bar. We’ve also included hanyu pinyin for each term, so you’ll know exactly what you’re typing, even if you don’t read Chinese.
Materials
- Wood → 木材 (mù cái)
- Plywood → 胶合板 (jiāo hé bǎn)
- Steel → 钢 (gāng)
- Leather → 皮革 (pí gé)
- Rattan → 藤 (téng)
- Marble → 大理石 (dà lǐ shí)
- Glass → 玻璃 (bō li)
- Sintered Stone → 岩板 (yán bǎn)
- Concrete → 混凝土 (hùn níng tǔ)
- Fabric → 布料 (bù yi)
- Linen → 亚麻 (yà má)
- Cotton → 棉 (mián)
- Velvet → 天鹅绒 (tiān é róng)
- Granite → 花岗岩 (huā gāng yán)
- Acrylic → 亚克力 (yà kè lì)
- Plastic → 塑料 (sù liào)
Interior styles
- Wabi-sabi → 侘寂风 (chà jì fēng)
- Minimalist → 极简 (jí jiǎn)
- Japandi → 日式北欧风 (rì shì běi ōu fēng)
- Scandinavian → 北欧 (běi ōu)
- Cream (aesthetic) → 奶油风 (nǎi yóu fēng)
- Vintage → 复古 (fù gǔ)
- Luxury → 轻奢 (qīng shē)
- Modern → 现代 (xiàn dài)
- Industrial → 工业风 (gōng yè fēng)
- Bohemian → 波西米亚风 (bō xī mǐ yà fēng)
- Mid-Century Modern → 中古风 (zhōng gǔ fēng)
- Buttery/creamy aesthetic → 奶油风
Furniture
- Sofa → 沙发 (shā fā)
- Closet → 衣橱 (yī chú)
- Wardrobe → 衣柜 (yī guì)
- Bed → 床 (chuáng)
- Dresser → 梳妆台 (shū zhuāng tái)
- Coffee Table → 茶几 (chá jī)
- TV Console → 电视柜 (diàn shì guì)
- Computer Table → 电脑桌 (diàn nǎo zhuō)
- Office Chair → 办公椅 (bàn gōng yǐ)
- Bookshelf → 书架 (shū jià)
- Armchair → 单人沙发 (dān rén shā fā)
- Storage Cabinet → 收纳柜 (shōu nà guì)
- Dining Table → 餐桌 (cān zhuō)
- Bench → 长凳 (cháng dèng)
- Sideboard → 餐边柜 (cān biān guì)
- Ottoman → 脚凳 (jiǎo dèng)
Kitchen
- Base Cabinets → 地柜 (dì guì)
- Kitchen Cabinet Set → 整体橱柜 (zhěng tǐ chú guì)
- Pantry Cabinet → 储物柜 (chǔ wù guì) / 食品储藏柜 (shí pǐn chǔ cáng guì)
- Corner Cabinet → 转角柜 (zhuǎn jiǎo guì)
- Countertop → 台面 (tái miàn)
- Kitchen Sink → 水槽 (shuǐ cáo)
- Oven Cabinet → 烤箱柜 (kǎo xiāng guì)
- Microwave Cabinet → 微波炉柜 (wēi bō lú guì)
- Dishwasher Cabinet → 洗碗机柜 (xǐ wǎn jī guì)
- Island → 中岛 (zhōng dǎo)
- Pantry Shelves → 储物架 (chǔ wù jià) / 食品储物架 (shí pǐn chǔ wù jià)
- Pot Rack → 锅架 (guō jià) / 挂锅架 (guà guō jià)
- Plates → 盘子 (pán zi)
- Placemats → 餐垫 (cān diàn)
Bathroom
- Bathroom Vanity → 浴室柜 (yù shì guì)
- Wall-mounted Vanity → 壁挂式浴室柜 (bì guà shì yù shì guì)
- Floor-mounted Vanity → 落地式浴室柜 (luò dì shì yù shì guì)
- Single Sink Vanity → 单盆浴室柜 (dān pén yù shì guì)
- Double Sink Vanity → 双盆浴室柜 (shuāng pén yù shì guì)
- Bathroom Mirror → 浴室镜 (yù shì jìng)
- Showerhead → 花洒 (huā sǎ)
- Rain Showerhead → 雨淋花洒 (yǔ lín huā sǎ)
- Faucet → 水龙头 (shuǐ lóng tóu)
- Towel Bar → 毛巾杆 (máo jīn gān)
- Toilet Paper Holder → 卫生纸架 (wèi shēng zhǐ jià)
- Robe Hook → 挂钩 (guà gōu)
- Laundry Basket → 脏衣篮 (zāng yī lán)
- Bathtub → 浴缸 (yù gāng)
- Toilet → 马桶 (mǎ tǒng)
- Bidet → 坐浴器 (zuò yù qì) / 智能马桶 (zhì néng mǎ tǒng)
Bedroom
- Bed Frame → 床架 (chuáng jià)
- Platform Bed → 平台床 (píng tái chuáng)
- Canopy Bed → 四柱床 (sì zhù chuáng)
- Bunk Bed → 双层床 (shuāng céng chuáng)
- Loft Bed → 高架床 (gāo jià chuáng)
- Murphy Bed → 壁床 (bì chuáng)
- Single Mattress → 单人床垫 (dān rén chuáng diàn)
- Double Mattress → 双人床垫 (shuāng rén chuáng diàn)
- Wardrobe → 衣柜 (yī guì)
- Sliding Door Wardrobe → 推拉门衣柜 (tuī lā mén yī guì)
- Hinged Door Wardrobe → 平开门衣柜 (píng kāi mén yī guì)
- Dresser → 梳妆台 (shū zhuāng tái)
- Nightstand → 床头柜 (chuáng tóu guì)
- Underbed Storage → 床底收纳 (chuáng dǐ shōu nà)
- Mirror → 镜子 (jìng zi)
- Sheets → 床单 (chuáng dān)
- Blanket → 毯子 (tǎn zi)
Study
- Computer Desk → 电脑桌 (diàn nǎo zhuō)
- Writing Desk → 书桌 (shū zhuō)
- L-Shaped Desk → L型书桌 (L xíng shū zhuō)
- Standing Desk → 升降桌 (shēng jiàng zhuō)
- Corner Desk → 转角书桌 (zhuǎn jiǎo shū zhuō)
- Office Chair → 办公椅 (bàn gōng yǐ)
- Desk Chair → 书桌椅 (shū zhuō yǐ)
- Ergonomic Chair → 人体工学椅 (rén tǐ gōng xué yǐ)
- File Cabinet → 文件柜 (wén jiàn guì)
- Drawer Unit → 抽屉柜 (chōu tì guì)
- Pegboard → 洞洞板 (dòng dòng bǎn)
- Desk Lamp → 台灯 (tái dēng)
- Desk Organiser → 桌面收纳 (zhuō miàn shōu nà)
- Desk Mat → 桌垫 (zhuō diàn)
Lighting
- Ceiling Light → 吸顶灯 (xī dǐng dēng)
- Chandelier → 吊灯 (diào dēng)
- Dining Light → 餐厅灯 (cān tīng dēng)
- Lamp Shade → 灯罩 (dēng zhào)
- Light Casing → 灯壳 (dēng ké)
- Smart Lighting → 智能灯光 (zhì néng dēng guāng)
- Standing Lamp → 落地灯 (luò dì dēng)
- Table Lamp → 台灯 (tái dēng)
- Track Light → 轨道灯 (guǐ dào dēng)
Gym & fitness
- Dumbbell → 哑铃 (yǎ líng)
- Kettlebell → 壶铃 (hú líng)
- Gym Bench → 健身凳 (jiàn shēn dèng)
- Gym Mat → 健身垫 (jiàn shēn diàn)
- Spin Bike → 动感单车 (dòng gǎn dān chē)
- Yoga Mat → 瑜伽垫 (yú jiā diàn)
Home decor & storage
- Bath Mat → 浴室地垫 (yù shì dì diàn)
- Bean Bag → 豆袋沙发 (dòu dài shā fā)
- Blind Box → 盲盒 (máng hé)
- Carpet → 地毯 (dì tǎn)
- Candle → 蜡烛 (là zhú)
- Curtain → 窗帘 (chuāng lián)
- Cushion → 靠垫 (kào diàn)
- Diffuser → 香薰机 (xiāng xūn jī)
- Indoor Slippers → 室内拖鞋 (shì nèi tuō xié)
- Pillow → 枕头 (zhěn tou)
- Rug → 小地毯 (xiǎo dì tǎn)
- Reed Diffuser → 香薰藤条 (xiāng xūn téng tiáo)
- Stool → 凳子 (dèng zi)
- Tatami → 榻榻米 (tà tà mǐ)
- Vase → 花瓶 (huā píng)
- Shoe Rack → 鞋架 (xié jià)
- Storage Rack → 收纳架 (shōu nà jià)
- Storeroom Rack → 仓储货架 (cāng chǔ huò jià)
- Hanger → 衣架 (yī jià)
- Laundry Basket → 洗衣篮 (xǐ yī lán)
Power search modifiers
One thing experienced Taobao shoppers quickly learn is that the real secret is not just searching for the furniture item itself, but pairing it with the right Chinese modifiers. Here are some other terms to add to your search:
- Same style as / dupe version → 同款 (tóng kuǎn)
- Viral internet style / trendy design → 网红款 (wǎng hóng kuǎn)
- Value for money / cost performance → 性价比 (xìng jià bǐ)
- Find similar items → 找相似 (zhǎo xiāng sì)
- Rental-friendly makeover → 出租屋改造 (chū zū wū gǎi zào)
- Magic tool / clever gadget → 神器 (shén qì)
- Original designer pieces → 原创设计 (yuán chuàng shè jì)
Use Taobao image search for specific items & designs
For a fail-proof search method, consider using the Taobao Image Search. As its name suggests, you can either take a photo or upload an existing picture onto either the Taobao app or website, and get search results of products similar to your image.
A tip is to use Pinterest-style pictures, clear photos on a white background, or product shots. Afterwards, you can filter the search by price, sales volume, and reviews.
Read Taobao reviews to gauge whether a product is worth buying
A rule of thumb to ensure your online shopping haul arrives looking like the photos is to read reviews carefully. Check how many there are, skim through detailed feedback from real buyers, and pay attention to user-uploaded photos. Reviews are usually where you’ll get to see how the item looks IRL and get a sense of the colours, shapes, and sizes.
Another quick hack is to look out for phrases such as fast delivery (发货很快), genuine item and priced fairly (货真价实), and recommend (推荐).
Taobao keyword glossary for non-Chinese speakers
Turns out, you don’t have to be fluent in Chinese to go ham on Taobao. Our keyword glossary will come in handy the next time you’re hunting for something specific on the app or website.
For more shopping guides:
- 12 best stores for bathroom accessories in Singapore
- 8 best furniture & homeware sales in Singapore this April
- 8 best air purifiers to tackle pet fur, pollen & haze at home
Cover image adapted from: Uchify
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