EXPAND YOUR VOCAB
I live-streamed my haircut in China so that you can listen along and learn some new vocabulary for when you eventually venture into a weird and wonderful — yet slightly intimidating — hairdressers in China.
Barbershop Phrases
推子
tuī zi
Clippers
剪短点
jiǎn duǎn diǎn
Cut my hair shorter
两边剪短一点
liǎng biān jiǎn duǎn yī diǎn
Cut it short on the sides
上边留长一点
shàng biān liú cháng yī diǎn
Leave it longer on top
剪层次
jiǎn céng cì
Layer cut
If you’d like to know how to:
- Create a fade effect where your hair is longer on top and shorter on the sides
- Ask your hairdresser to use the guard on the clippers
- What to say when you first walk into a barbershop
- How to ask for bangs
- How to ask for your hair to be cut to your shoulders and just past your shoulders
- How to ask for different styles of hair cut (you can point from a magazine or picture that you bring)
- How to ask about dying your hair
Then, I’d suggest watching the full live stream and taking notes!
Pro tip:
The best way to guarantee a decent hair cut in China is to take a picture of what you’d like your hair to look like and ask them to copy it. Try and take some notes from this video so you can be more specific on length or style.
Struggling To Translate?
Struggling to listen along and translate what I’m saying? That’s normal. Consider joining the Speak Everyday Chinese community. We offer online courses to learn the everyday Chinese you need to get what you want.
There is something for everyone, whether you’re a super beginner, studying for another HSK test or advanced University student who missed out all the crucial day-to-day vocabulary.
Join now, because what do you have to lose?

A quick and important disclosure:
Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. I recommend them because they are helpful and useful.
The Great Firewall of China
Want to use the VPN I use for a stable, quick connection in China? I depend on it to upload more than six videos a week and live-stream on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. And here’s my second choice for a VPN. Plus, when you download from either link, they share some of the cost with me, so I can keep creating the videos you love.

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