How to Ask 'How Much Is This?' in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to ask the price of a single item in Mandarin with 多少钱 and 这个, understand the answer, and use measure words correctly when pointing at things you want to buy.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
This lesson teaches one narrow, practical skill: asking what a single item costs in Mandarin and understanding the reply. The key question is 多少钱 (duōshao qián), literally 'how much money'. You will combine it with 这个 (zhège, 'this one') to point at something and ask its price. This is different from asking about quantity, such as 几个 (jǐ ge, 'how many'). Price questions use 多少钱, and the answer usually contains 块 (kuài), the everyday spoken word for a unit of Chinese currency. By the end you will be able to ask, hear a price, and respond politely in a shop or market.
By the end, you can…
- ask the price of a specific item using 这个多少钱？
- understand a simple spoken price answer such as 十块 or 二十五块。
- use 这个 and 那个 to point at items when asking about cost.
- ask for a cheaper option politely with 便宜一点。
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
这个多少钱？
How much is this?
zhège duōshao qián?
The standard way to ask the price of one item you are pointing at or holding. 这个 means 'this one'.
那个多少钱？
How much is that?
nàge duōshao qián?
Use 那个 for something farther away. The pattern is identical to 这个多少钱？
十块。
Ten yuan.
shí kuài.
A typical short answer. 块 is the everyday spoken unit for yuan; the full written form is 元 (yuán).
太贵了。
That's too expensive.
tài guì le.
Said after hearing a price. 太...了 is a common pattern meaning 'too much'.
便宜一点，可以吗？
A little cheaper, is that okay?
piányi yìdiǎn, kěyǐ ma?
A polite way to ask for a lower price, common in markets. 一点 means 'a little'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [item] + 多少钱？. Put the thing you are asking about first, then 多少钱. For example, 这个多少钱？ (How much is this?), 那个多少钱？ (How much is that?), 苹果多少钱？ (How much are the apples?). The answer normally follows [number] + 块, as in 五块 (five yuan) or 三十块 (thirty yuan). If the price includes smaller units, you may hear 块 and 毛, where 毛 is one tenth of a yuan, for example 三块五 (three yuan fifty).
When to use it
Use 多少钱 when you want to know the cost of something, not the number of items. Compare 这个多少钱？ (How much is this?) with 这个几个？ (How many of these?), which asks about quantity. In shops, point at the item or hold it up and say 这个多少钱？. If the seller answers too quickly, you can repeat 多少钱？ to hear the price again. To ask about a different item, switch to 那个多少钱？. Always keep the item word before 多少钱.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，这个多少钱？
Hello, how much is this?nǐ hǎo, zhège duōshao qián?二十块。
Twenty yuan.èrshí kuài.太贵了。便宜一点，可以吗？
That's too expensive. A little cheaper, is that okay?tài guì le. piányi yìdiǎn, kěyǐ ma?好，十八块。
Okay, eighteen yuan.hǎo, shíbā kuài.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, prices are usually quoted in 块 in speech and 元 on signs or receipts. Bargaining with 便宜一点 is normal in markets and small stalls, but it is not appropriate in supermarkets, chain stores, or places with fixed prices. A friendly tone matters more than the exact words.
One thing to watch for
Asking 多少钱个？ or putting 多少钱 before the item, as in 多少钱这个？
Try this instead: Keep the item first and 多少钱 last: 这个多少钱？ (How much is this?). 多少钱 is a fixed phrase meaning 'how much money' and does not take 个 after it.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask the price of an item you are holding?
Show a sample answer
这个多少钱？
这个 means 'this one' and 多少钱 asks the price. 那个多少钱？ is also correct if the item is farther away.
2The seller says 十五块。 What is the price in English?
Show a sample answer
Fifteen yuan.
十五 means fifteen and 块 is the spoken unit for yuan. 十五元 is the same price in a more formal form.
3How do you politely ask for a lower price?
Show a sample answer
便宜一点，可以吗？
便宜一点 means 'a little cheaper' and 可以吗？ asks 'is that okay?'. 便宜一点吧 is also acceptable in casual speech.
Ask the price with [item] + 多少钱？, listen for [number] + 块, and use 便宜一点，可以吗？ only where bargaining is normal.
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