Everyday Chinese phrase
How much in Chinese: 多少钱？
多少钱？ (duōshao qián?) is the common way to ask “How much is it?” It works for shops, markets, taxis and everyday purchases, while a more formal question can be used in written or business contexts.
Quick answer: 多少钱？ (duōshao qián?) is the common way to ask “How much is it?” 这个多少钱？ means “How much is this?”
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.
How much in Chinese questions
How do you say how much in Chinese?
For a price, 多少钱？ (duōshao qián?) is the common question. 这个多少钱？ means “How much is this?”
What does 多少 mean?
多少 means how much or how many depending on context. Adding 钱 makes the question specifically about money or price.
How do you ask the price politely?
请问多少钱？ or 价格是多少？ can sound more polite or formal than a bare 多少钱？
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多少钱, 几块钱 and 怎么卖 are not the same question
多少钱 is the general question. 几块钱 expects a small number and sounds casual. 怎么卖 asks how the item is priced: by piece, weight, set or another unit. 怎么算 asks how the total is calculated. Add the unit when the price depends on weight, size or quantity.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Typical situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这个多少钱？ | zhège duōshao qián | How much is this? | The safe general question. |
| 几块钱？ | jǐ kuài qián | How many yuan? | Very casual and expects a small amount; not suitable for a major purchase. |
| 怎么卖？ | zěnme mài | How do you sell it? | Markets and stalls; asks for the pricing unit. |
| 怎么算？ | zěnme suàn | How is it calculated? | Use when the total depends on quantity, weight or length. |
| 一共多少钱？ | yígòng duōshao qián | How much altogether? | At the till or after choosing several items. |
| 一斤多少钱？ | yì jīn duōshao qián | How much per jin? | Markets and food stalls; one jin is 500 grams. |
Listen for the unit before comparing prices. 元 and 块 both mean yuan, 角 and 毛 both mean one-tenth of a yuan, and 分 is one-hundredth. A price may be stated as 三十五 or 三十块五, so context and the displayed price matter as much as the words.
Paying and change
Card, mobile payment, cash and change
China is largely mobile-payment oriented, but card and cash acceptance varies by business. Ask before the transaction instead of assuming. 刷卡 means to use a bank card, 扫码 means to scan a code, and 现金 means cash.
- Can I pay by card? 可以刷卡吗？ (kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma)
- Can I use WeChat Pay? 可以用微信支付吗？ (kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn zhīfù ma)
- Can I use Alipay? 可以用支付宝吗？ (kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma)
- Do you take cash? 收现金吗？ (shōu xiànjīn ma)
- Can I scan to pay? 可以扫码吗？ (kěyǐ sǎo mǎ ma)
- Do you have change? 有零钱吗？ (yǒu língqián ma)
- Keep the change. 不用找了。 (bú yòng zhǎo le)
- Can I have a receipt or invoice? 有收据吗？ / 可以开发票吗？ (yǒu shōujù ma / kěyǐ kāi fāpiào ma)
不用找了 literally means “no need to give change”; it is understood as keep the change, but only use it when you are comfortable with the amount. 开发票 is an official invoice request and is more formal than 收据, a simple receipt. Bargaining is also not universal: 便宜一点可以吗？ (piányi yìdiǎn kěyǐ ma) fits a market stall, not a supermarket or a fixed-price chain.
Questions about price, payment and change
What is the difference between 多少钱 and 几块钱?
多少钱 is the general, neutral question. 几块钱 expects a small number and sounds casual, so it is better for inexpensive items and everyday market talk than for a large purchase.
What does 怎么卖 mean?
怎么卖 literally asks “how do you sell it?” and usually asks for the pricing unit, such as per piece, per jin, per box or per set. It is common at markets and small shops.
How do I ask if a shop takes card or mobile payment?
Use 可以刷卡吗？ for a bank card, 可以用微信支付吗？ for WeChat Pay, and 可以用支付宝吗？ for Alipay. Add 吗 to turn the statement into a yes-or-no question.
How do I ask for change in Chinese?
Ask 有零钱吗？ (do you have change?) or 可以找零吗？ (can you give change?). 不用找了 means “keep the change”; use it only when you intend to leave the difference.
How do you ask for the bill in Chinese?
买单 or 结账 means “the bill, please.” 买单 is common in restaurants and 结账 is more general. 我要付钱 means “I want to pay.”
Can I bargain in Chinese shops?
In markets and small shops in some regions, yes — 便宜点吧 and 太贵了 are used. In supermarkets, chain stores and most online shops, prices are fixed and bargaining is not appropriate.
Why do people say 块 instead of 元?
块 is the everyday spoken word for the yuan unit, while 元 is the written standard. 十块 means ten yuan in speech.
Do you tip in China?
Tipping is not customary in mainland China, and service charges are not normally expected, though a few upscale or tourist venues may differ.
How are 毛, 角 and 分 used?
毛 and 角 mean a tenth of a yuan, and 分 means a hundredth. 三块五 means three yuan and five 毛, or 3.5 yuan.
What is the difference between 多少钱 and 多少?
多少钱 specifically asks about money or price. 多少 alone asks how much or how many and can refer to quantity, degree or an uncountable amount depending on context.
How do I ask for the total price?
Use 一共多少钱？ (yīgòng duōshao qián?), which asks for the total. 这个多少钱？ asks about a specific item.
Is 块 the same as 元?
Both are units of Chinese currency, but 块 is common in speech and 元 is more formal or written. They are not different currencies.
Can I bargain by saying 便宜一点?
It means “a little cheaper” and can be polite in markets or small shops, but not every seller expects bargaining. Consider the setting and use a polite request rather than a demand.
Asking about a price and bargaining
多少钱？ (“how much money?”) is the core question, and 这个多少钱？ means “how much is this?” In markets and small shops, bargaining is expected in some regions but not others. Useful phrases include 太贵了 (“too expensive”), 便宜点吧 (“a little cheaper, please”), 能便宜吗？ (“can it be cheaper?”) and 打折吗？ (“is there a discount?”). In supermarkets, chain stores and most online shops, prices are fixed and bargaining is not appropriate. Reading the setting matters as much as knowing the words.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 多少钱？ | duōshao qián? | How much is it? | General price question |
| 这个多少钱？ | zhège duōshao qián? | How much is this one? | Pointing to an item |
| 一共多少钱？ | yígòng duōshao qián? | How much altogether? | Several items or a bill |
| 太贵了 | tài guì le | That is too expensive | Market bargaining, use carefully |
| 便宜点吧 | piányi diǎn ba | A little cheaper, please | Negotiable market setting |
| 能便宜吗？ | néng piányi ma? | Can it be cheaper? | Asking, not demanding |
| 打折吗？ | dǎzhé ma? | Is there a discount? | Sales or promotions |
| 可以刷卡吗？ | kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? | Can I pay by card? | Payment method |
Bargaining is situational: it may be normal in a market and inappropriate in a supermarket or chain store. 多少钱 asks the price; 太贵了 expresses a reaction and can start negotiation, but it is not a neutral request for a lower price.
Paying: 结账, 买单 and payment methods
To pay, 结账 or 买单 both mean “the bill, please,” with 买单 more common in restaurants and 结账 more general. 我要付钱 (“I want to pay”) is clear. Common payment words include 现金 (cash), 微信 (WeChat Pay), 支付宝 (Alipay) and 刷卡 (pay by card). In mainland China, mobile payment is dominant, and a shop may say 扫码 (“scan the code”). Tipping is not customary in mainland China; service charges are not expected, though a few upscale or tourist venues may differ.
Reading prices: 块, 元, 毛 and 角
Prices are spoken with 块 (kuài) far more often than 元 (yuán), even though 元 is the written standard. 十块 means ten yuan. Fractions use 毛 (máo) or 角 (jiǎo) for a tenth of a yuan, and 分 (fēn) for a hundredth. So 3.5 yuan may be heard as 三块五. Larger amounts use 十 (ten), 百 (hundred) and 千 (thousand); 万 means ten thousand. Recognising these shortcuts helps you understand an answer even when the spoken number drops the unit words.
Grammar: why 多少钱 works
多少钱 (duōshao qián) is a compact question: 多少 asks “how much” or “how many,” 钱 means money, and the rising intonation turns the phrase into a question. In everyday speech, 少 in 多少 is often light or reduced, so 多少钱 can sound close to duōshao qián rather than two equally stressed syllables. The written pinyin often marks the full citation pronunciation as duōshǎo, but learners should expect variation in fast speech. The phrase is about price, not about every English use of “how much.”
Shopping questions beyond the basic phrase
这个多少钱？ (zhège duōshao qián?) means “How much is this?” and is clear when the item is visible or already being discussed. 请问，多少钱？ adds 请问, a polite way to open a question. 一共多少钱？ (yīgòng duōshao qián?) asks for the total; 多少钱一个？ asks for the price of one item; 多少钱一斤？ asks for the price per jin, a common unit in Chinese markets. 这个怎么卖？ (zhège zěnme mài?) is useful when price depends on weight, size or quantity. Choosing the right form prevents a shopkeeper from guessing what is being priced.
Understanding prices, units and change
Prices may be spoken with 块 (kuài) in conversation and 元 (yuán) in formal or written contexts. 十块 and 十元 both mean ten yuan, but 块 is more colloquial. 毛 (máo) is one tenth of a yuan, and 分 (fēn) is one hundredth; these smaller units appear when a price is not a whole number. In rapid speech, numbers may be shortened or run together, so repeat the amount or ask 多少钱？ again if the answer is unclear. Currency words such as 人民币, 美元, 欧元 and 日元 should be stated when the setting does not make the currency obvious.
Bargaining is not automatic
太贵了 (tài guì le) means “too expensive,” and 便宜一点 (piányi yīdiǎn) means “a little cheaper.” 可以便宜一点吗？ makes the request more polite. These phrases fit markets and some small shops, but fixed-price stores, chains and online platforms may not expect bargaining. Tone and relationship matter: a playful request can be friendly, while a blunt demand can sound rude. The phrase 多少钱 itself is neutral; the bargaining etiquette around it depends on where you are shopping.
Learning and design notes
Keep the question mark in learning material and dialogue examples. In a phrasebook, pair 多少钱 with a visible noun or 这个 so the learner knows what is being asked. The phrase is a conversational question rather than a calligraphic motto, and it should not be shortened to 多少钱钱 or word-for-word English order. If it appears on a travel card, add a small pronunciation guide rather than assuming the reader knows the tones.
Related everyday phrases
How much 多少钱 sits among these expressions, but the polite or natural choice still depends on the relationship, time of day and whether the setting is spoken or written.