Dialogue

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

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。

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