Learn how to ask how much something is
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| Introduction |
| Eric: Welcome to 3-Minute Chinese Season 1, Lesson 10 - Asking How Much Something Costs. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask how much something costs in Chinese. |
| Body |
| Eric: Here's the formal way to ask "How much does this cost?" in Chinese. |
| Cho: [Normal] 这个多少钱？(zhège duōshǎo qián?) |
| Eric: First is a pronoun meaning "this" |
| Cho: [Normal] 这个 [Slow] 这个 (zhège) |
| Eric: Next is the phrase meaning "how much,” or “how many" |
| Cho: [Normal] 多少 [Slow] 多少(duōshǎo) |
| Eric: Last is the noun meaning "money" |
| Cho: [Normal] 钱 [Slow] 钱(qián) |
| Eric: Listen again to the formal question meaning "How much does this cost?" |
| Cho: [Slow] 这个多少钱？ [Normal] 这个多少钱？ |
| Eric: Now, imagine you're speaking to a friend. Here's the informal way to ask, "How much does this cost?" |
| Cho: [Normal] 这个几钱？(zhège jǐ qián?) |
| Eric: First is a pronoun meaning "this" |
| Cho: [Normal] 这个 [Slow] 这个 (zhège) |
| Eric: Next is the word meaning "how many,” or “a few" |
| Cho: [Normal] 几 [Slow] 几(jǐ) |
| Eric: Last is the word meaning "money" |
| Cho: [Normal] 钱 [Slow] 钱(qián) |
| Eric: Listen again to the informal question meaning "How much does this cost?" |
| Cho: [Slow] 这个几钱？ [Normal] 这个几钱？ |
| Eric: Here's a response meaning "OK, I'll take it." |
| Cho: [Normal] 好吧，我要这个。(hǎo ba, wǒ yào zhège.) |
| Eric: First is a word meaning "all right" |
| Cho: [Normal] 好吧 [Slow] 好吧(hǎoba) |
| Eric: Next is the pronoun meaning "I" |
| Cho: [Normal] 我 [Slow] 我(wǒ) |
| Eric: Next is the verb meaning "to want" |
| Cho: [Normal] 要 [Slow] 要(yào) |
| Eric: Last is the pronoun meaning "this" |
| Cho: [Normal] 这个 [Slow] 这个(zhège) |
| Eric: Listen again to the response meaning "OK, I'll take it." |
| Cho: [Slow] 好吧，我要这个。 [Normal] 好吧，我要这个。 |
| Eric: Here's a response meaning, "No, thanks. It's too expensive." |
| Cho: [Normal] 这个太贵了。(zhège tài guì le.) |
| Eric: First is a pronoun meaning "this" |
| Cho: [Normal] 这个 [Slow] 这个(zhège) |
| Eric: Next is the adverb meaning "too" |
| Cho: [Normal] 太 [Slow] 太(tài) |
| Eric: Next is the adjective meaning "expensive" |
| Cho: [Normal] 贵 [Slow] 贵(guì) |
| Eric: Last is the particle indicating a state. |
| Cho: [Normal] 了 [Slow] 了(le) |
| Eric: Listen again to the response meaning "No, thanks. It's too expensive." |
| Cho: [Slow] 这个太贵了。 [Normal] 这个太贵了。 |
| Cultural Insight |
| Eric: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight. |
| Cho: If you think something is too expensive, say “Néng piányi diǎn ma?,” which means “Can it be a little cheaper?” This phrase is usually useful in China, but will only work in places where bargaining is allowed, so don’t try it in a place like a large department store. |
Outro |
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| Eric: And that’s all for this lesson. Don’t forget to check out the lesson notes, and we’ll see you in the next lesson! |
| Cho: 再见。 |
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