多少钱
duōshao qián
多少钱 (duōshao qián) is the Chinese way to say "how much".
You use 多少钱 specifically to ask about the price of something. The core component 多少 is the most common and neutral way to ask "how much" in Chinese. While 多少 can be used to ask about any quantity, regardless of whether the answer is expected to be a small or large number, adding 钱 (money) narrows the focus to cost. For example, you can ask about age using 多少岁 (how many years) or use the more casual 多大.
Meaning: what is the cost/price? (det)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 多少 (how many/much) and 钱 (money), literally meaning "how much money".
Which one should you use?
While 多少 can be used for any quantity, the character 几 is used specifically when asking about a quantity that is expected to be small, usually under 10.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 多少 can be used to ask about any quantity, whether the answer is expected to be a small or large number. In currency, a common subunit of the basic RMB unit is 块.
How do you pronounce it?
duōshao qián
When do people say it?
To make your inquiry about prices or quantities more polite, you can add the phrase 请问 at the beginning of your sentence.
Did you know?
- In a traditional Chinese market, asking 多少钱 is often just the start of a negotiation. It is culturally expected that the first price given is a starting point and that the buyer will propose a lower number.
- While 钱 means 'money', the spoken word for the basic currency unit is often 块, which literally means 'piece'. This refers to the historical practice of cutting silver ingots into pieces.
- The character 钱 originally referred to a kind of ancient currency that looked like a spade or a knife.
Examples in context
- 门票多少钱？How much is the entrance fee?This sentence is useful for asking about the cost of an entrance fee.Tatoeba #457644 by GlossaMatik, translation #281941 by CK
- 你有多少钱？How much money do you have?This sentence is useful for asking about the amount of money someone possesses.Tatoeba #771082 by GlossaMatik, translation #64597 by CK
- 这个多少钱？How much is it?This sentence is useful for asking the price of a specific item.Tatoeba #10052325 by GlossaMatik, translation #2418 by brauliobezerra
- 请问，这个多少钱？Excuse me, how much does this cost?
- 这本书多少页？How many pages does this book have?
- 这个包多少钱？How much does this bag cost?
- 49 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Xiaowen is buying a fruit at a market.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen老板，这个苹果多少钱？Lǎobǎn, zhège píngguǒ duōshǎo qián?Boss, how much is this apple?
- 志强 Zhiqiang一个三块钱。Yīgè sān kuài qián.Three yuan each.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我买三个，一共多少钱？Nà wǒ mǎi sān gè, yīgòng duōshǎo qián?Then I'll buy three, how much is it in total?
- 志强 Zhiqiang一共九块钱。Yīgòng jiǔ kuài qián.Nine yuan in total.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
