多少钱？
duōshao qián?
How much is it · trad. 多少錢？
多少钱？ (duōshao qián) is the essential phrase to ask "How much is it?" or "How much does it cost?" in Mandarin Chinese. It's widely used when shopping, bargaining, or inquiring about prices, making it a must-know travel phrase.
What does 多少钱？ (duōshao qián?) mean?
多少钱？ (duōshao qián?) means “how much is it” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “how much money?”
When to use it
Neutral and direct. It's appropriate in almost any situation where you need to ask for a price. For a slightly more polite or formal approach, you can add 请问 (qǐngwèn, "excuse me, may I ask") at the beginning.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "DWOH-shao chyen." The first syllable has a high-level tone, the second is light, and the third is a rising tone.
Other ways to say it
- 多少钱一个？duōshao qián yī ge?How much for one?
- 这个多少钱？zhè ge duōshao qián?How much is this one?
- 一共多少钱？yī gòng duōshao qián?How much altogether?
Examples
请问，这个多少钱？
qǐngwèn, zhè ge duōshao qián?
Excuse me, how much is this?
多少钱？我要买两个。
duōshao qián? wǒ yào mǎi liǎng ge.
How much is it? I want to buy two.
这件衣服多少钱？
zhè jiàn yīfu duōshao qián?
How much is this piece of clothing?
Pro tip: When asking "多少钱？", be prepared for a quick answer in Chinese numbers. Learning basic numbers from one to ten, and then hundreds and thousands, will be very helpful for understanding prices.
Related phrases
太贵了 · Too expensive便宜一点吧 · Can you make it cheaper能便宜多少？ · How much can you come down
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