How much in Chinese: 多少钱？

多少钱 combines 多少 (how much or how many), 钱 (money) and a question intonation. The phrase is short and direct. In many conversations, 少 is light or neutral, so the pronunciation often sounds closer to duōshao qián than two fully stressed syllables.

这个多少钱？ and 请问多少钱？

这个多少钱？ (zhège duōshao qián?) means “How much is this?” It is natural when the item is clearly visible or already being discussed. 请问多少钱？ (qǐngwèn duōshao qián?) adds 请问, a polite way to introduce a question, and can sound more formal with a stranger or in a service setting.

How to ask in a more formal way

价格是多少？ (jiàgé shì duōshao?) means “What is the price?” and can sound more formal or written than 多少钱. 这个怎么卖？ (zhège zěnme mài?) asks “How is this sold?” and can be useful when the price depends on weight, size or quantity. These are not interchangeable with every shopping situation.

Money and currency words

钱 means money. 人民币 (rénmínbì) is the official name of the Chinese currency, while 元 (yuán) and 块 (kuài) are common units. 块 is very common in speech; 元 appears in formal prices and written records. 美元 means US dollars, 欧元 euros and 日元 Japanese yen. State the currency when the context is ambiguous.

Understanding the answer

A price may be given as 十块 (ten yuan), 二十元 (twenty yuan), 一百五十 (one hundred fifty) or with a measure word depending on the item. Numbers can be shortened in rapid speech, so listen for the complete amount and ask for clarification if needed. 太贵了 means “too expensive”; 便宜一点 means “a little cheaper.”

Pronunciation and written form

多少 is duōshao, 钱 is qián, and the question mark is a normal writing convention. 多少钱 is written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese because these characters do not change in this phrase. Keep the order 多少 → 钱 rather than translating English word order.

When not to use 多少钱

The phrase is about price, not every English use of “how much.” For an uncountable amount, 多少 can be used without 钱, as in a question about quantity. For a small number of countable things, 几 may be more natural. Context determines whether the question is about money, quantity or degree.

Design and learning notes

This is a conversational question rather than a slogan. If it appears in learning material, keep the question mark and the full phrase together. In a dialogue, place 这个, 请问 or a specific item before 多少钱 so the listener knows what is being priced.