Cut prices

[danka]

The action to discuss or cut prices with a salesman is called "kan jia". But which characters is it?

I, naively, though it was 砍价, but then a Chinese friend said it was 侃价 although he was not 100% sure. I'm a bit sceptical as it's not in the dictionary and the explanation of 侃 is "upright and strong; amiable".

Does anyone have a more certain answer?

[HashiriKata]

What do you think if I say both of you are correct? (I'm a diplomat? ). Seriously, they are interchangeable. There's also another word for trying to cut down the price: 讲价

[anonymoose]

Just as the eskimos have many words for snow, the Chinese have many words for haggling.

Here's another one:

讨价还价

[Arcadia]

侃 ,only used in northern chinese dialect, means talking or chating.

侃价 means bargain. I think It changed into 砍价 by southern people.

so both are correct.

[lazyGG]

侃价 is generally used in the northern country

the southern people may use 讲价,which means the same

you bargain with the dealer to cut the price down

砍价 means you cut the price down with any means (not with a axe)

[flameproof]

Sorry for being off topic.....

Just as the eskimos have many words for snow,

They don't. Let's do some myth busting......

http://www.zompist.com/lang16.html

http://www.mendosa.com/snow.html

http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~atman/Misc/eskimo-snow-words.html

[danka]

That must be the best answer. I now found the "chat" meaning of 侃 in another dictionary. It makes sense.

I personally like 砍 better. It reminds me of when I cut the price from 250 to 15 yuan on a "silk scarf" at the Silk market tourist trap in Beijing.. But I probably paid more than it was worth anyway..

Thank you everyone for your elaboration on the topic.