What is the MOQ?
最小起订量 is the precise term, but in real WeChat conversations, suppliers and buyers both shorten it to 起订量. Know both, use the short one in conversation.
最小起订量是多少？
What is the minimum order quantity? — the standard question for any product inquiry with a Chinese supplier.
Smallest start-order quantity is how much?
What is the minimum order quantity? — the standard question for any product inquiry with a Chinese supplier.
WHEN IT FITS
MOQ — minimum order quantity — is one of the first things you ask about when sourcing from China, and the Chinese term is worth learning precisely. The full formal term is 最小起订量 (zuì xiǎo qǐ dìng liàng): 最小 (minimum), 起 (to start/initiate), 订 (to order), 量 (quantity). In practice, everyone shortens it to 起订量 (qǐ dìng liàng) in conversation. An Alibaba product page will say 最小起订量; a WeChat message from your supplier will say 起订量. The short form is the working term.
The more important skill than knowing the word is understanding that MOQ in Chinese factory culture is a negotiation opener, not a policy. When a supplier says 起订量 500 个 (MOQ 500 units), they’re signaling what makes the production run worth setting up. But 500 is rarely the absolute minimum — it’s what they’d prefer you to order. The phrase 能不能少一点 (can it be a bit less) is always worth trying, especially when paired with a reason: 我们先试一单 (we’ll try a test order first), 这个数量我们先跑一下市场 (we want to test the market with this quantity first), or 第一单先少一点，后面会加量的 (smaller for the first order, we’ll increase later).
If the supplier won’t budge on MOQ, the next question is 能不能混批 (can we mix batches?) — meaning, can you combine different products, colors, or styles to reach the MOQ total? Some factories allow this, some don’t. And if price is more flexible than quantity, try: 起订量按你们的来，单价能不能再谈谈 (your MOQ is fine, can we discuss the unit price?). This signals you’re a serious buyer willing to meet their terms if they’ll meet you on price. The worst they can say is 不好意思，这是最低了 (sorry, this is the minimum). The best case: you get the quantity you actually want at a price you can live with.
HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY SAY IT
这款产品的起订量是多少？能不能少一点？
What's the MOQ for this product? Can it be a bit less?
Asking for MOQ and immediately negotiating — standard practice如果起订量太高的话，我们先试一单小一点的。
If the MOQ is too high, we'll try a smaller test order first.
Pushing back on MOQ with the 'test order' framingCHOOSE BY SITUATION
最少要订多少？
What's the minimum I need to order? — more casual, more natural for spoken or WeChat conversation.
You're in a casual conversation with a supplier and want the plainest possible phrasing能不能混批？
Can we mix batches? — asking whether you can combine different products to reach the MOQ.
You want multiple products but can't meet the MOQ for each individually