Learn the key pattern to ask the price of something
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| Let's take a closer look at the conversation. |
| Do you remember how Ben asks |
| "How much is this?" |
| 这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?) |
| Ben's question starts with 这个 (zhèige), "this," 这个. |
| This word can be divided into two parts. |
| First is 这 (zhèi), "this." 这 (zhèi). 这. |
| Pronunciation note: 这 can be pronounced as zhè or zhèi. Zhèi is more common in everyday speech. |
| Next is 个 (gè), which is a universal measure word. 个. 个. |
| Together, 这个 means "this one" or "this." 这个. 这个. |
| While 这个 can translate as "this one" or "this," for this lesson, we'll use "this." |
| After that is 多少钱 (duōshǎo qián), meaning, "How much money?" 多少钱。 |
| The first part is 多少 (duōshǎo) "How many" or "How much," in this context. 多少. 多少. |
| Note, the literal meaning of the Chinese characters: 多, many, and 少, few. So you could think of it like "a lot" or "a little" money, but it translates as "how much." 多少 (duōshǎo). |
| Next is 钱 (qián) "money." 钱. 钱. |
| Together, 多少钱 (duōshǎo qián) means "How much money?" or "How much?" 多少钱. |
| All together, 这个多少钱？(Zhèige duōshǎo qián?) literally means "This how much money?" but translates as "How much is this?" |
| 这个多少钱? |
| Let's take a closer look at the response. |
| Do you remember how the shop clerk says, |
| "Two kuai." |
| 两块。(Liǎng kuài.) |
| First is 两 (liǎng) "two." 两 is used to say "two" when followed by a measure word. 两. 两. |
| Next is 块 (kuài), which literally means "chunk" or "piece", but is also used as a unit for Chinese money in colloquial speech. 块. 块. |
| Together 两块 means "two kuai." |
| 两块。 |
| Note, at the time of this lesson, two kauai buys a bottle of water. |
| The pattern is |
| {Item} 多少钱？ |
| How much [is] {Item}? |
| {Item} 多少钱？ |
| To use this pattern, simply replace the {item} placeholder with the thing you'd like to know the price of. |
| Imagine you'd like to know the price of a coffee. |
| 咖啡 (kāfēi) "coffee." 咖啡 (kāfēi). 咖啡. |
| Ask, "How much is a coffee?" |
| Ready? |
| 咖啡多少钱？(Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?) |
| "How much is a coffee?" |
| 咖啡多少钱？(Kāfēi duōshǎo qián?) |
| There are two ways to say the number "two." |
| When used to represent the number 2, |
| such as in counting or a phone number, the number 2 is pronounced èr. |
| For example, 一、二、三、四、五 (yī, èr, sān, sì, wǔ). |
| When used to express quantity, use 两 (liǎng) plus a measure word to say two of something. |
| For example, 两块, (liǎng kuài) "two kuai," 两个蛋糕 (liǎng ge dàngāo) "two cakes," |
| 两杯咖啡 (liǎng bēi kāfēi) "two cups of coffee." |
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