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 |
|---|
| 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。 |
8 Comments
HideLet's practice asking prices here!
Hello robert groulx,
Thank you for your comment. We hope you enjoyed it!
If you have any questions, please let us know.
Ngai Lam
Team ChineseClass101.com
thank you for the lesson
(zhège duōshǎo qián?
robert
Hi, Efrem,
加油！(Jiā yóu !)(Fighting!)
Cho
Team ChineseClass101.com
这个衣服多少钱？
这是100元.
能便宜点吗？
80元。
太贵了。
70元。
好吧，我要这个。
这个手机几钱？
这是200元。
谢谢， 我不要。
How much does one shrimp shumai cost? 夏燒賣是多少錢？
Hi, dr.dorian andermann,
Thank you for your posting.
Exactly, the translation of "这个太贵了。" in English is "It is too expensive."
But in a dialogue, we can also say "no thanks, it is too expensive." like the case as following:
A: How much is it?
B: 20 dollars. Do you want one?
A: No thanks. It is too expensive.
If you have any question, please let us know.
Cho
Team ChineseClass101.com
hi
when i say it is too expensive in chinese where does no thanks appear?
your english translation states:
no thanks it is too expensive
dr.dorian andermann