Can you make a sample first?
打样 is the verb that identifies you as someone who has worked with Chinese factories before. 做样品 is grammatically correct and marks you as a first-timer.
能先打个样吗？
Can you make a sample first? — the standard way to request a pre-production sample from a Chinese factory, using the industry verb 打样.
Can first make a sample [question]?
Can you make a sample first? — the standard way to request a pre-production sample from a Chinese factory, using the industry verb 打样.
WHEN IT FITS
The verb 打样 (dǎ yàng) is a shibboleth — it’s the word that tells a Chinese factory manager you’ve done this before. 打 (dǎ) literally means “to hit” or “to strike,” but in factory contexts it’s the all-purpose action verb: 打样 (make a sample), 打版 (make a pattern/template), 打模 (make a mold), 打包 (pack). 样 (yàng) is short for 样品 (yàng pǐn, sample). Together, 打样 means “to produce a sample” — specifically, to make a single unit or small batch as a pre-production reference. It’s the word factory managers use with each other, and using it signals that you speak their language, not textbook Chinese.
The practical conversation around sampling goes like this: you confirm the rough price first (价格大概多少), then ask about sampling (能先打样吗), then the critical question — money. Most factories charge a sample fee (打样费, dǎ yàng fèi), especially if the product requires new tooling, custom printing, or specialized materials. The fee can range from free (for simple products with existing tooling) to hundreds of dollars (for complex custom work). The standard industry arrangement is: 打样费下单可退 (sample fee is refundable when you place the production order). Always get this confirmed in writing. A factory that refuses to refund the sample fee on a production order is either protecting against very high sample costs or doesn’t expect you to actually place an order.
After requesting the sample, the next natural question is about timing: 打样要多久 (how long will the sample take)? Sample lead times vary from 3-5 days for simple products to 2-4 weeks for complex ones with custom tooling. Manage expectations: a sample that takes two weeks doesn’t mean the factory is slow; it means they’re making tooling from scratch for your product. The sample is the most labor-intensive unit they’ll ever produce for you. Treat it as a collaboration, not a vending machine transaction. A buyer who says 打样费没问题, 重点是把质量做好 (sample fee is fine, the key thing is getting the quality right) earns respect from factory managers who are used to being nickel-and-dimed on samples.
HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY SAY IT
确认价格没问题的话，先打个样看看。
If the price is confirmed, let's make a sample first to take a look.
Moving from pricing to sampling — the standard next step打样费多少？下单的话能不能退？
What's the sample fee? Is it refundable when we place the order?
Asking about sample costs — critical practical questionCHOOSE BY SITUATION
能先做一个样品看一下质量吗？
Can you make one sample first so we can check the quality? — uses 样品, not 打样, but in a full natural sentence.
You're communicating with a supplier for the first time and want to be extra clear rather than industry-cool先出个样，我们看了再定。
Produce a sample first — we'll decide after seeing it. — even more casual, for established relationships.
You're working with a supplier you know well and can be brief