131: How to Ask About the Price of Things in Mandarin Chinese

By Learnmandarinnow

Every day people have to buy things, maybe to eat or drink; or pay for a train or bus ticket; or choose something they wish to buy in the market. Make sure you know how to ask about prices and to select whatever it is you want to buy… you don’t want to go hungry, right?

In this Podcast, you will learn:

(i) How to ask about pries of items in the market or the shops

(ii) To select the type and number of items you wish to buy

Dialogue: Two people are hungry and looking for a snack:

(路边烤串摊) (lù biān kǎo chuàn tān)

(roasted skewers stalls)

A: 老板!鸡串儿多少钱一串儿?

Lǎo bǎn! Jī ròu chuàn er duō shǎo qián yī chuàn er?

Hey boss! How much is the chicken skewer?

B: 两块五 Liǎng kuài wǔ. Two fifty

A: 那羊肉串儿呢? Nà yáng ròu chuàn er ne?

What about the lamb skewer?

B:一样,也是两块五。

Yī yàng, yě shì liǎng kuài wǔ.

The same, two fifty

A: 鱿鱼多少钱一串儿?

Yóu yú duō shǎo qián yī chuàn er?

How much is a squid skewer?

B: 3块钱!

Sān kuài qián!

Three yuan

A:好,给我来一个鸡肉串儿,一个羊肉串儿,两个鱿鱼串儿!谢谢!

“Hǎo, gěi wǒ lái yī gè jī ròu chuàn er, yī gè yáng ròu chuàn er, liǎng gè yóu yú chuàn! Xiè xie!

Okay. I would like to have one chicken skewer, one lamb skewer and two squid skewers. Thank you.

Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:

老板:boss

烤:roast/bake

串:lots of same things are connected together

羊肉串:lamb skewer

鸡肉串:chicken skewer

鱿鱼串:squid skewer

一串:one

鸡肉串多少钱:how much is the chicken skewer?

Cultural/Grammar notes:

It is very common to call the restaurant owner or store owner ‘老板’(boss) but, if the boss is female, we can call her ‘老板娘’.

Mandarin Chinese learning resources we recommend: 

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