Price and purchases in Chinese - Lesson 14 

In this lesson of Mandarin Chinese, we will address the prices and purchases topic.

Contents of this lesson

1. Vocabulary

2. Linguistic note

3. Grammar

4. Dialogues

5. Substitution exercise

1. Vocabulary

Verbs

Others

2. Linguistic note

In China, prices are indicated in the country currency like the yuan 元 ‹ yuán ›, the Chinese currency. However, when speaking we replace 元 ‹ yuán › by 块 ‹ kuài ›. Here is a chart to help you read, tell and understand money amounts:

You may need to review the lesson on numbers and figures.

3. Grammar

A. Asking how much it cost

"多少钱 ‹ duōshǎo qián ›" (lit. "how much money") translate by "how much does it cost" or "how much costs ...".

When asking the price for a specific quantity, this expression is followed by the numerical value of the quantity and a measurement unit or the classifier corresponding to the topic:

• 这种 地图 多少钱 一张？ ‹ Zhè zhǒng dìtú duōshǎo qián yī zhāng? ›
  This kind of card costs how much (each)?

• 香蕉 多少钱 一斤？ ‹ Xiāngjiāo duōshǎo qián yī jīn? ›
  Bananas cost how much half a kilo?

B. Adverb "again / also" 还 ‹ hái ›

Like all adverbs in Chinese, the adverb 还 ‹ hái ›, precedes the verb.

• 您 还 要 别的 吗？ ‹ Nín hái yào bié de ma? ›
  Do you want something else (more) ?
• 我 还 要 两 斤 香蕉。 ‹ Wǒ hái yào liǎng jīn xiāngjiāo. ›
  I also want a kilo of bananas.

4. Dialogues

Dialogue N° 1

- 法国地图多少钱一张？ ‹ Fàguó dìtú duōshǎo qián yī zhāng? ›
- 您要这种还是那种？ ‹ Nín yào zhè zhǒng háishì nà zhǒng? ›
- 多少钱？ ‹ Duōshǎo qián? ›
- 这种四块一张。那种三块五一张。 ‹ Zhè zhǒng sì kuài yī zhāng. Nà zhǒng sān kuài wǔ yī zhāng. ›
- 我要这种。 ‹ Wǒ yào zhè zhǒng. ›
- 您要多少张地图？ ‹ Nín yào duōshǎo zhāng dìtú? ›
- 我要一张。给你钱。 ‹ Wǒ yào yī zhāng. Gěi nǐ qián. ›

Translation :

- How much do maps cost in France?
- Do you want this kind or that one?
- How much does it cost?
- This kind costs 4 yuans per unit; this one, 3 yuans.
- I want that kind.
- How many maps do you want?
- I want one. Here's the money.

Dialogue N° 2

- 葡萄多少钱一斤？ ‹ Pútáo duōshǎo qián yī jīn? ›
- 四块五。 ‹ Sì kuài wǔ. ›
- 可以尝尝吗？ ‹ Kěyǐ cháng cháng ma? ›
- 可以，尝吧。 ‹ Kěyǐ, cháng ba. ›
- 葡萄好吃！ ‹ Pútáo hào chī! ›
- 您要几斤？ ‹ Nín yào jǐjīn? ›
- 我买一公斤。 ‹ Wǒ mǎi yī gōngjīn. ›

Translation :

- How much is half a kilo of grapes?
- 4.5 yuans.
- Can we try?
- Yes. Try it!
- The grapes are good!
- How many do you want (kilos)?
- I buy one kilogram.

Dialogue N° 3

- 苹果多少钱一斤？ ‹ Píngguǒ duōshǎo qián yī jīn? ›
- 八块。 ‹ Bā kuài. ›
- 太贵了，便宜一点吧。六块五一斤，怎么样？ ‹ Tài guì le, piányí yīdiǎn ba. Liù kuài wǔ yī jīn, zěnmeyàng? ›
- 七块吧。 ‹ Qī kuài ba. ›
- 行。我要两斤。 ‹ Xíng. Wǒ yào liǎng jīn. ›
- 还要别的吗？ ‹ Hái yào bié de ma? ›
- 还要一斤香蕉。一共多少钱？ ‹ Hái yào yī jīn xiāngjiāo. Yīgòng duōshǎo qián? ›
- 一共十八块。 ‹ Yīgòng shíbā kuài. ›
- 给你二十块钱。 ‹ Gěi nǐ èrshí kuài qián. ›
- 找您两块。 ‹ Zhǎo nǐ liǎng kuài. ›

Translation :

- How much cost five hundred grams of apples?
- Eight yuans.
- It's too expensive, (make it) a little cheaper. 6.5 yuan half kilo, alright ?
- Alright, 7 yuan.
- Okay. I want one kilo of it.
- Do you want something else?
- And also half a kilo of bananas. That's how much altogether?
- A total of 18 yuan.
- I give you 20 yuan.
- I give you back 2.

5. Substitution exercise

Replace the blanks in the question, according to the porposed list:

_________________多少钱_________________ ？