How to Ask How Much Something Is

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Chinese by ChineseClass101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask how much something is in Chinese.

For example, "How much is this?"" is

这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?)

Jason Xu is at a small grocery store.

He sees a snack with no visible price tag, and asks for the price.

Before you hear the conversation, let's preview some of its key components.

这个 (zhèige)

"this"

这个

两 (liǎng)

"two"

两

Listen to the conversation.

这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?)

两块。(Liǎng kuài.)

Once more with the English translation.

这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?)

"How much is this?"

两块。(Liǎng kuài.)

"Two kuai."

Let’s break down the conversation.

Do you remember how Jason asks

"How much is this?"

这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?)

Jason's question starts with 这个 (zhèige), "this," 这个。

This word can be divided into two parts.

First is 这 (zhèi), "this." 这 (zhèi) . 这.

Pronunciation note: 这 (zhèi) can be pronounced as zhè or zhèi. Zhèi is more common in everyday speech.

Next is 个 (gè), which is a universal measure word. 个 . 个.

Together, 这个 (zhèige) means "this one" or "this." 这个 . 这个.

While 这个 (zhèige) can translate as “this one” or “this,” for this lesson, we’ll use “this.”

After that is 多少钱 (duōshǎo qián), meaning, "How much money?" 多少钱。

The first part is 多少 (duōshǎo) "How many" or "How much," in this context. 多少 . 多少。

Note, the literal meaning of the Chinese characters: 多 (duō), many, and 少 (shǎo), few. So you could think of it like “a lot” or “a little” money, but it translates as "how much." 多少 (duōshǎo)

Next is 钱 (qián) "money." 钱 . 钱。

Together, 多少钱 (duōshǎo qián) means "How much money?" or "How much?" 多少钱。

All together, 这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?) literally means "This how much money?" but translates as "How much is this?"

这个多少钱? (Zhèige duōshǎo qián?)

Let’s take a closer look at the response.

Do you remember how the shop clerk says,

"Two kuai."

两块。(Liǎng kuài.)

First is 两 (liǎng) "two." 两 is used to say "two" when followed by a measure word. 两 . 两.

Next is 块 (kuài), which literally means "chunk" or "piece", but is also used as a unit for Chinese money in colloquial speech. 块 . 块。

Together 两块 means "two kuai."

两块。

Note, at the time of this lesson, two kuai buys a bottle of water.

The pattern is

ITEM 多少钱？

ITEM how much [is] ？

ITEM 多少钱？

To use this pattern, simply replace the {item} placeholder with the thing you’d like to know the price of.

Imagine you’d like to know the price of a coffee.

咖啡 (kāfēi) "coffee." 咖啡 (kāfēi) . 咖啡。

Ask, "How much is a coffee?"

Ready?

咖啡多少钱？(Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?)

"How much is a coffee?"

咖啡多少钱？(Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?)

There are two ways to say the number "2."

To represent the number 2,

such as in counting or a phone number, 2 is pronounced èr.

For example, 一、二、三、四、五 (yī, èr, sān, sì, wǔ),

When used to express quantity, use 两 (liǎng) plus a measure word to say two of something.

For example, 两块, (liǎng kuài) "two kuai," 两个蛋糕 (liǎng ge dàngāo) "two cakes,"

两杯咖啡 (liǎng bēi kāfēi) "two cups of coffee."

Again, the key pattern is

ITEM 多少钱？(ITEM duōshǎo qián?)

ITEM how much [is] ？

ITEM 多少钱？

Let’s look at some more examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?)

“How much is this?”

这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?)

咖啡多少钱？(Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?)

“How much is a coffee?”

咖啡多少钱？(Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?)

蛋糕多少钱？(Dàngāo duōshǎo qián?)

“How much is a cake?”

蛋糕多少钱？(Dàngāo duōshǎo qián?)

那个多少钱？(Nèige duōshǎo qián?)

“How much is that?”

那个多少钱？(Nèige duōshǎo qián?)

多少钱？(Duōshǎo qián?)

“How much?”

多少钱？(Duōshǎo qián?)

Did you notice how the native speaker omitted 这个 (zhèige)？

多少钱？(Duōshǎo qián?)

"How much?"

When you’re asking how much something is, and it’s understood what you’re referring to, for example, when asking by pointing at something, you can omit the subject.

This pattern is

多少钱？(Duōshǎo qián?)

You should be aware of this pattern, but for this lesson, we’ll use the sentence pattern,

{Item} 多少钱？

{Item} how much money?

Let's review the new words.

咖啡 (kāfēi).

“Coffee”

咖啡 .

咖啡.

蛋糕 (dàngāo).

“Cake.”

蛋糕 .

蛋糕.

那个 (nèige).

“That.”

那个 .

那个.

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how to say "money?"

钱 (qián)

And how to say "how much?"

多少 (duōshǎo)

Do you remember how Jason Xu asks,

"How much is this?"

这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?)

Do you remember how to say "two" when it's followed by a measure word?

两 (liǎng)

Do you remember how the clerk says,

"Two kuai."

两块。(Liǎng kuài.)

Do you remember how to say "coffee?"

咖啡 (kāfēi)

And how to say "cake?"

蛋糕 (dàngāo)

Do you remember how to say "that?"

那个 (nèige)

那个(nèige)

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Jason , and you're at a farmers' market, where many items have no price tag.

You'd like to try a snack close to the clerk. Ask the price using the word for “that,” or 那个 (nèige).

Ready?

那个多少钱？(Nèige duōshǎo qián?)

五块。(Wǔ kuài.)

Listen again and repeat.

那个多少钱？(Nèige duōshǎo qián?)

Let’s try another.

Imagine they’re also selling artisan coffee. Ask for the price of a coffee, or 咖啡 (kāfēi).

Ready?

咖啡多少钱？(Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?)

十块。(Shí kuài.)

Listen again and repeat.

咖啡多少钱？(Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?)

Let’s try one more.

Ask for the price of a cake, or 蛋糕 (dàngāo).

Ready?

蛋糕多少钱？(Dàngāo duōshǎo qián?)

八块。(Bā kuài.)

Listen again and repeat.

蛋糕多少钱？(Dàngāo duōshǎo qián?)

In this lesson, you learned how to ask how much something costs. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of shopping at a grocery store. Let’s review.

Do you remember how to say "please"?

请 (qǐng)

And how to say "that"?

那个 (nèige)

Do you remember how to say, "Give me that, please"?

请给我那个。 (Qǐng gěi wǒ nèige.)

Do you remember how to say the question-marking particle?

吗 (ma)

Do you remember the polite way to say "there is?"

有 (yǒu)

And how to say “salt?”

盐 (yán)

Do you remember how to ask

"Is there any salt?"

有盐吗？(Yǒu yán ma?)

Imagine you're Jack Jones , and you're at a grocery store, and you'd like to buy water.

Do you remember how to say "water" in Chinese?

水 (shuǐ)

Ask the clerk for water.

请给我水。(Qǐng gěi wǒ shuǐ.)

好。给您。(Hǎo. Gěi nín.)

Listen again and repeat.

请给我水。(Qǐng gěi wǒ shuǐ.)

You remember that you also wanted to buy milk

Do you remember how to say "milk" in Chinese?

牛奶 (niúnǎi)

Now ask the clerk if the store has milk.

Ready?

有牛奶吗？(Yǒu niúnǎi ma?)

有。在这里。 (Yǒu. Zài zhèlǐ.)

Listen again and repeat.

有牛奶吗？(Yǒu niúnǎi ma?)

You'd also like to know the price of a coffee.

Do you remember how to say "coffee" in Chinese?

咖啡 (kāfēi)

Now ask for the price of a coffee.

咖啡多少钱？ (Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?)

十块。 (Shí kuài.)

Listen again and repeat.

咖啡多少钱？ (Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?)

Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can Shop at a Grocery Store unit of this course.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

What's next?

Show us what you can do.

When you're ready, take your assessment.

You can take it again and again, so try anytime you like.

Our teachers will assess it, and give you your results.

Keep practicing — and move on to the next lesson!

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