これはいくらですか？
kore wa ikura desu ka?
In Japanese, the phrase to say "how much is this?" is これはいくらですか？ (kore wa ikura desu ka?)
This phrase is used to ask for the price of a specific item. If you are already pointing at the item or it is clear what you are referring to, you can omit the これは part and simply ask いくらですか？
What does it mean word for word?
The word これ means "this" and refers to an object near the speaker. The word いくら is the interrogative used to ask for a quantity or a price.
Which one should you use?
While これはいくらですか？ uses これ (this) to refer to an object near the speaker, you can change the first word to それは to say "How much is that?", which refers to an object near the listener. For a more friendly and conversational tone, you can use これっていくら？ to mean "So, how much is this?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard formal way to ask is これはいくらですか？ You can use an even more polite version by adding the honorific prefix to the price, resulting in おいくらですか？ In informal settings, such as with friends, you can drop the ですか and simply say これ、いくら？ or これはいくら？
How do you pronounce it?
kore wa ikura desu ka?
Did you know?
- The word いくら is sometimes used in the name of the famous Japanese salmon roe dish, though the words are unrelated in meaning.
- If a price is listed as 税込, it means the price you are asking about already includes the consumption tax.
- While これ refers to an item near you, if you use あれ instead of それは, you are asking about an item that is far from both you and the shopkeeper.
Examples in context
- これはいくらですか？Kore wa ikura desu ka?How much is this?
- すみません、これはいくらですか？Sumimasen, kore wa ikura desu ka?Excuse me, how much is this?
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are shopping at a souvenir store.
- 健太 Kenta美咲さん、見て！これはいくらですか？Misaki-san, mite! Kore wa ikura desu ka?Misaki, look! How much is this?
- 美咲 Misakiええと、五百円だと思います。Eeto, gohyaku-en da to omoimasu.Hmm, I think it is 500 yen.
- 健太 Kenta安いですね。買いたいです。Yasui desu ne. Kaitai desu.That's cheap. I want to buy it.
- 美咲 Misakiいいですね。買いましょう！Ii desu ne. Kaimashou!That's a good idea. Let's buy it!
