How to Ask How Much Shipping Costs in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to ask how much it costs to ship a package in Mandarin, understand weight-based pricing questions, and follow a short counter dialogue using 运费, 寄, 多重 and 公斤.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you send a parcel in a Chinese-speaking area, the price usually depends on weight and destination, so the key question is not simply 'how much?' but 'how much does shipping cost?' In Mandarin, the everyday word for shipping cost is 运费 (yùnfèi). To ask about a specific item, use 寄 (jì), 'to send by post or courier', plus 这个 (zhège), 'this one'. This lesson gives you five ready phrases, a weight-based pricing pattern, and a natural counter dialogue. You will also learn why 多少钱 alone can be too vague at a shipping counter and how to ask about kilograms with 公斤 (gōngjīn).
By the end, you can…
- ask how much it costs to ship a specific item.
- ask and understand whether shipping is priced by weight.
- say a weight in kilograms and ask for the total shipping cost.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
寄这个多少钱？
How much does it cost to ship this?
jì zhège duōshao qián?
The most direct everyday question. Use it while pointing at or holding the parcel. 多少 (duō shao) is neutral and common; 多少钱 is the standard price question.
运费多少钱？
How much is the shipping fee?
yùnfèi duōshao qián?
Use 运费 when you want to separate the shipping fee from the item price or other charges. It is clear and common at counters and online.
这个寄到美国多少钱？
How much does it cost to ship this to the United States?
zhège jì dào Měiguó duōshao qián?
Replace 美国 with your destination: 英国 (Yīng guó), 加拿大 (Jiā ná dà), 澳大利亚 (Ào dà lì yà). 寄到 means 'send to'.
按重量算吗？
Is it calculated by weight?
àn zhòngliàng suàn ma?
Use this to confirm the pricing method. 按 means 'according to', 重量 means 'weight', 算 means 'calculate'. The particle 吗 makes it a yes/no question.
这个多重？
How heavy is this?
zhège duō zhòng?
A quick way to ask about weight. 多重 means 'how heavy'. Do not confuse it with 多少钱, which asks about price.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 寄 + item + 多少钱: 寄这个多少钱？ (How much to ship this?). To name the destination, add 到 + place before 多少钱: 寄这个到英国多少钱？ (How much to ship this to the UK?). For weight-based pricing, use 按重量算 (calculated by weight) and give the weight with 公斤: 三公斤 (three kilograms). A full question can be 三公斤寄到加拿大多少钱？ (How much to ship three kilograms to Canada?). If the clerk answers with a number, confirm with 一共多少钱？ (How much altogether?).
When to use it
Use 寄这个多少钱？ at a small counter when the item is right in front of you. Use 运费多少钱？ when you are comparing an item price with the shipping fee, or when you are already discussing a total. Use 按重量算吗？ before you hand over the parcel, because couriers may price by actual weight, volumetric weight, or a flat rate. If the answer is 按重量算, then ask 这个多重？ or state the weight yourself: 两公斤 (two kilograms). For international parcels, add the destination: 寄到澳大利亚多少钱？ This keeps the question precise and avoids a vague 多少钱.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，我想寄这个到加拿大。
Hello, I'd like to ship this to Canada.Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng jì zhège dào Jiānádà.好的。这个多重？
Okay. How heavy is this?Hǎo de. Zhège duō zhòng?大概两公斤。运费多少钱？
About two kilograms. How much is the shipping fee?Dàgài liǎng gōngjīn. Yùnfèi duōshao qián?按重量算，两公斤一共两百八十块。
It's calculated by weight; two kilograms is 280 yuan altogether.Àn zhòngliàng suàn, liǎng gōngjīn yígòng liǎng bǎi bā shí kuài.A little context goes a long way
At shipping counters, 多少钱 alone can sound abrupt or unclear because the clerk may not know whether you mean the item, the shipping fee, or the total. Naming the service with 运费 or the action with 寄 makes your question precise. Politeness is often carried by 你好, 请问 (qǐng wèn, 'may I ask'), and 谢谢 rather than by complicated grammar. Prices may be quoted in 块 (kuài) in speech and 元 (yuán) on receipts; both are understood.
One thing to watch for
Asking 这个多少钱？ at a shipping counter and assuming it means 'how much to ship this?'
Try this instead: 这个多少钱？ usually asks the price of the item itself. For shipping, say 寄这个多少钱？ or 运费多少钱？ For example, 寄这个到英国多少钱？ clearly asks for the shipping cost to the UK.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'How much does it cost to ship this?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
寄这个多少钱？
寄 (jì) means 'to send by post or courier', 这个 means 'this one', and 多少钱 asks the price. 这个寄多少钱？ is also understandable, but 寄这个多少钱？ is the most natural order.
2A clerk says 按重量算. What does that mean, and what should you ask next?
Show a sample answer
It means 'calculated by weight'. Ask 这个多重？ or give the weight, for example 三公斤多少钱？
按重量算 confirms weight-based pricing. 多重 asks how heavy it is; 三公斤多少钱 asks the price for three kilograms. If the clerk already knows the weight, you can simply ask 一共多少钱？
3How do you say 'How much does it cost to ship this to Australia?'
Show a sample answer
寄这个到澳大利亚多少钱？
The pattern is 寄 + item + 到 + destination + 多少钱. 到 means 'to', and 澳大利亚 is Australia. 这个寄到澳大利亚多少钱？ is also acceptable, with slightly different emphasis.
Use 寄这个多少钱？ for a specific parcel, 运费多少钱？ for the shipping fee, and 按重量算吗？ to confirm weight-based pricing. Add 到 + destination for international shipping, and use 公斤 for kilograms.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Chinese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr