Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 15 of 240

New here? This is lesson 15 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

Start hereHow this works

How much is it? in Traditional Chinese

Maya points to an egg pancake and soy milk at Banyan Breakfast. Auntie Lin tells her the price, and Maya nods before realizing she did not understand it.

Learn to ask how much something costs and recognize a price in dollars.

You can also say when something costs too much, ask for a cheaper choice, or explain that you do not have enough money.

By the end of this lesson

Ask a price, understand fifty dollars, and respond when something costs more than you can pay.

  • 這個多少錢？How much is this?
  • 多少錢？How much?
  • 五十塊Fifty dollars.
  • 太貴了That's too expensive.
  • 有便宜一點的嗎？Is there a cheaper one?
  • 我的錢不夠I don't have enough money.

Scene — the price at breakfast

At Banyan Breakfast, Maya points to an egg pancake and a soy milk. Auntie Lin gives her a price while A-Li sits nearby on two stools, his own soy milk still unfinished.

Maya nods at the counter, then realizes she has no idea what she just agreed to.

Maya nods toward the breakfast counter, then looks uncertain as Auntie Lin gestures to the food and Ali sits nearby with unfinished soy milk.

Learn — ask and answer about prices

Start with two ways to ask the price. Then listen to the answer and learn three useful things to say if the price does not work for you.

  1. Maya points directly at the egg pancake and soy milk while asking Auntie Lin about their price.

    這個多少錢？

    How much is this?

    When to use it: Ask this while pointing to an item you want to buy.

  2. Ali leans toward the counter with a curious expression and gestures toward the soy milk as he asks how much it costs.

    多少錢？

    How much?

    When to use it: Ask this when both people know which item you mean.

  3. Auntie Lin responds from behind the counter with an open-palmed pricing gesture while Maya listens.

    五十塊

    Fifty dollars.

    When to use it: Say this to give a price of fifty dollars.

  4. Maya reacts to the price with a doubtful frown and a small protesting gesture toward the food.

    太貴了

    That's too expensive.

    When to use it: Say this when a price is higher than you want to pay.

  5. Maya turns toward a simpler breakfast choice and asks Auntie Lin whether there is a less expensive option.

    有便宜一點的嗎？

    Is there a cheaper one?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to see a less expensive choice.

    Learn the request as one piece.

  6. Maya looks into her open wallet and shows Auntie Lin that she has only a few coins.

    我的錢不夠

    I don't have enough money.

    When to use it: Say this when you cannot pay the amount asked.

Story — fifty dollars?

Maya asks about an egg pancake and soy milk. Auntie Lin gives the price, and Maya nods before admitting she did not understand.

Listen for what Maya asks next.

  1. Maya請問，這個多少錢？Excuse me, how much is this?
  2. Auntie Lin蛋餅跟豆漿，五十塊。The egg pancake and soy milk are fifty dollars.
  3. Maya好喔。Okay.
  4. A-Li妳聽懂嗎？Did you understand?
  5. Maya我聽不懂。I didn't understand what I heard.
  6. A-Li五十塊。Fifty dollars.
  7. Maya太貴了。我的錢不夠。That's too expensive. I don't have enough money.
  8. Maya有便宜一點的嗎？Is there a cheaper one?
  9. Auntie Lin有，這個。Yes, this one.
  10. Maya多少錢？How much?
  11. Auntie Lin二十塊。Twenty dollars.

Practice — check the price

Work through short counter conversations. Listen for the price, choose the right question, and put the words in order before you try speaking.

0 of 8 done

  1. What does it mean?

    五十塊

  2. What do you say?

    You point to the breakfast in front of Auntie Lin. Ask its price.

  3. Build the line

    Is there a cheaper one?

    ？

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    That's too expensive.

    太____了

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Swap the word

    You cannot afford the food. Make the sentence about your own money.

    ____的錢不夠

  7. What do you say?

    Get Auntie Lin's attention before asking her a question.

  8. Pick the reply

    A-Li says:

    妳聽懂嗎？

    Did you understand?

    And you reply with:

Say it — your turn at the counter

Play Maya at the breakfast counter. Ask about an item, react to its price, and ask Auntie Lin for another choice.

Listen to each reply before speaking.

  1. Maya points to an egg pancake and soy milk.
  2. Maya (you)Ask how much the item in front of you costs.

    這個多少錢？

    How much is this?

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
這個多少錢？How much is this?
多少錢？How much?
五十塊Fifty dollars.
太貴了That's too expensive.
有便宜一點的嗎？Is there a cheaper one?
我的錢不夠I don't have enough money.
Next: lesson 16Bigger numbers

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Review today's price questions and answers in Yak Cards.

Try the cards before your next breakfast order.

Open Yak Cards