How to say “How much is this?” in Chinese
“How much is this?” in Chinese is 这个多少钱？, written in pinyin as Zhège duōshao qián?.
这个多少钱？
Zhège duōshao qián?
How much is this?
Word by word
What each part of 这个多少钱？ actually means.
- 这个zhègethis one
- 多少duōshaohow much
- 钱qiánmoney
When you use it
- Street markets, night markets, souvenir stalls and small independent shops: anywhere the price is spoken rather than printed.
- Point at one specific item as you say it, because 这个 does the work of the noun you do not know.
Use 这个多少钱？ in shopping situations. Prices, sizes, bargaining and paying.
Other ways people say it
The same idea, said differently. Roughly in the order you'll hear them.
这个怎么卖？
Zhège zěnme mài?
How do you sell this?
The market version, asking the rate rather than the total. You will hear it more than 多少钱 at fruit and vegetable stalls.
多少钱一斤？
Duōshao qián yì jīn?
How much per half kilo?
一斤 (yì jīn) is 500 grams, and fresh food in China is priced by it rather than by the item.
有便宜的吗？
Yǒu piányi de ma?
Do you have a cheaper one?
Moves the conversation from the price to the choice, which works in shops that stock several grades of the same thing.
What usually trips people up
- Say duōshao as one word. 少 keeps its third tone on its own but flattens inside 多少, so splitting the two syllables sounds wrong.
- Ask about 这个 or 那个, never about nothing. In a crowded stall a bare 多少钱 makes the seller guess which of twenty items you mean.
- In a supermarket the price is on the shelf tag and there is nothing to ask. This phrase earns its keep where prices are actually spoken.
What you might hear back
- 二十五。ÈrshíwǔTwenty-five.
- 你要几个？Nǐ yào jǐ gè?How many do you want?
- 这个便宜。Zhège piányiThis one is cheaper.
Common questions
- How do you say "How much is this?" in Chinese?
- "How much is this?" in Chinese is 这个多少钱？ — written in pinyin as Zhège duōshao qián?. It is a shopping phrase you would use in China.
- What does 这个多少钱？ mean in Chinese?
- 这个多少钱？ (Zhège duōshao qián?) means "How much is this?". Broken down word by word: 这个 (zhège) means "this one"; 多少 (duōshao) means "how much"; 钱 (qián) means "money".
- When would you use "How much is this?" in Chinese?
- Street markets, night markets, souvenir stalls and small independent shops: anywhere the price is spoken rather than printed. Point at one specific item as you say it, because 这个 does the work of the noun you do not know.
Where you'll use it
这个多少钱？ comes up in these situations, in this order.
More Shopping phrases
Learn all 18 Shopping phrases
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