多少钱: How to Ask the Price When Ordering Food in Chinese

Point at the item and say 这个多少钱？ (zhège duōshǎo qián?). Vendors usually answer with a number plus 块 (kuài). Then decide out loud: 好，我要这个 or 不要了，谢谢. For the total near the end, 一共多少钱？ — that’s the amount question; 买单 is calling for the check.

The price lines you say out loud

Line 4 is for your ear. You don’t need full number theory tonight — recognize 块, catch a simple total, then decide.

After you accept the price, lock the order with 我要这个. Full seven-line meal path: how to order food in Chinese.

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Hear the answer (块)

### What you’ll hear

Vendors often answer like:

• 十八块 — shíbā kuài
• 三十块 — sānshí kuài
• 二十五块 — èrshíwǔ kuài

块 (kuài) = spoken yuan. That’s the word that tells you “this is the price,” even if you miss part of the number the first time.

### You don’t need a numbers textbook

Catch 块. Guess the ballpark. Decide 要 or 不要. Perfect digit recall can wait — lunch can’t.

Optional soft exit if it’s out of range: 太贵了 — keep it light; you’re not opening a negotiation seminar at a night-market stall.

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First question works — second beat freezes

You: 这个多少钱？ Vendor: 十八块。 You: … ← freeze zone

The ask worked. The decision freezes.

### Pre-load

• 好，我要这个。 — OK, I’ll have this.
• 不要了，谢谢。 — I’ll pass, thanks.
• 太贵了。 — optional soft exit

Same breath upgrades when you want them:

• 好，我要这个，不要辣。 — price accepted + spice preference (不要辣)

Practice scene loop: point → ask → hear __块 → decide out loud. Competitors teach the question and stop. You need the closed loop.

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多少钱 vs 买单 (don’t mix them up)

Use 一共多少钱？ when you want the number spoken. Use 买单 when you want the bill brought / the payment flow started. Deep exit sequence (WeChat follow-up included): how to ask for the check in Chinese.

Don’t say 付钱 when you mean “how much?” — that means “pay money,” not the price question.

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3 mistakes

1. 多少钱吗 / 几钱. Don’t add 吗 — 多少 already questions. Don’t use 几 for the price ask; stick to 多少钱.
2. Asking 付钱 when you mean “how much.” Price ask = 多少钱. Paying = later. Check request = 买单.
3. Understanding the number but never saying 我要这个. Hearing 十八块 is half the job. Decide out loud or the vendor keeps waiting.

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FAQ

### How do you ask how much something costs in Mandarin?

Point at the item and say 这个多少钱？ — “How much is this?” For one portion: 一份多少钱？ Don’t add 吗. Vendors usually answer with a number plus 块, the spoken word for yuan.

### How do you ask for the total bill amount?

Say 一共多少钱？ — “How much altogether?” Use this when you want the number. To call the check itself, say 买单 — that’s the request for the bill, not the price question. See ask for the check (买单).

### What does 块 mean?

块 (kuài) is the everyday spoken word for yuan when prices are said out loud. Hear 十八块 as “eighteen yuan.”

### Do you add 吗 to 多少钱?

No. 多少 already makes it a question. Say 这个多少钱？ — not 多少钱吗.

### What should you say after you hear the price?

If you’ll take it: 好，我要这个. If not: 不要了，谢谢. Add spice in the same breath when needed: 我要这个，不要辣. Counter fork after you decide: for here or to go.

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Practice hearing __块 and answering out loud

You’ve got the ask lines. The gap now is the closed loop under stall noise — not another shopping phrase list.

Say 这个多少钱？ once more, hear a fake 十八块 in your head, then answer 好，我要这个 out loud. Then open the practice scene:

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Cluster links

• Point and lock: 我要这个
• Full order path: How to order food in Chinese
• Spice: 不要辣
• Check / WeChat exit: How to ask for the check (买单)
• Dine-in vs to-go: For here or to go in Mandarin

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Related: How to order food · 我要这个 · 不要辣