多少钱？
duōshao qián?
The English phrase "how much is it?" is translated into Chinese as 多少钱？ (duōshao qián?)
多少钱？ is the standard way to ask for the price of an item in retail or market settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "how much money?" The part 多少 (duōshao) means "how many" or "how much".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese-speaking regions, locals use the phrase 几多钱 instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
When combined, 多少 (duōshao) functions as an interrogative pronoun meaning "how many" or "how much".
How do you pronounce it?
duōshao qián?
Did you know?
- The word 多少 (duōshao) contains the characters for 'many' and 'few', literally meaning 'many or few' to ask for a quantity.
- In many Chinese markets, saying 多少钱？ is only the first step in a ritual of bargaining where the initial price is expected to be lowered.
- The word 钱 (qián) originally referred to the shape of ancient coins, which were round with a square hole in the middle.
Examples in context
- 这件衬衫多少钱？How much is this shirt?
- 这些苹果多少钱？How much are these apples?
- 这个多少钱？Zhège duōshǎo qián?How much is this?
- 那件衣服多少钱？Nà jiàn yīfú duōshǎo qián?How much is that piece of clothing?
Example conversation
Haoran and Jiayi are at a fruit market.
- 浩然 Haoran佳怡，这个苹果多少钱？Jiāyí, zhège píngguǒ duōshǎo qián?Jiayi, how much is this apple?
- 佳怡 Jiayi三个五块钱。Sān gè wǔ kuài qián.Three for five yuan.
- 浩然 Haoran太贵了，能便宜点吗？Tài guì le, néng piányi diǎn ma?That's too expensive, can it be cheaper?
- 佳怡 Jiayi不行，这就是原价。Bùxíng, zhè jiùshì yuánjià.No, this is the original price.
