30-Day Spoken Chinese Beginner Plan)
🗓 This is Day 9 of the 30-Day Spoken Chinese Beginner Plan
🔙 Back to Full Course: Spoken Chinese for Beginners 

Section 1: Today’s Goal

Today you will learn how to ask “How much is this?”, how to talk about price, and how to say something is cheap or expensive in simple Chinese. You will also learn how to say “I want this” while shopping. Study time: 15–20 minutes. Indian context: Think about shopping in a market, mall, or small shop. You usually ask the price first, then decide. Chinese works the same way—short and clear sentences.

Section 2: Key Words You Need (Pinyin + Meaning)

Duōshao qián — How much money? / How much?
Zhège — This one
Nàge — That one
Qián — Money
Guì — Expensive
Piányi — Cheap
Wǒ yào zhège — I want this one
Tài guì le — Too expensive
Hěn piányi — Very cheap
Hǎo — Okay / Good

Simple tip: To ask the price, you just say: Zhège duōshao qián? = How much is this?

Section 3: Ready-to-Use Shopping Sentences

Zhège duōshao qián? — How much is this?
Nàge duōshao qián? — How much is that?
Tài guì le. — Too expensive.
Hěn piányi. — Very cheap.
Wǒ yào zhège. — I want this one.
Hǎo. — Okay.
Xièxie. — Thank you.

Section 4: Mini Shopping Dialogues

Dialogue 1:
A: Zhège duōshao qián? (How much is this?)
B: (Price)
A: Tài guì le. (Too expensive.)
B: …
A: Hǎo, wǒ yào zhège. (Okay, I want this one.)
B: Hǎo. (Okay.)
A: Xièxie. (Thank you.)

Dialogue 2:
A: Nàge duōshao qián? (How much is that?)
B: (Price)
A: Hěn piányi. (Very cheap.)
A: Wǒ yào zhège. (I want this one.)

Section 5: How to Think About It (Indian Context)

In India, you say “How much is this?” or “Too expensive” or “Okay, I’ll take this.” In Chinese, you do the same, just shorter: Zhège duōshao qián? = How much is this? Tài guì le = Too expensive. Wǒ yào zhège = I want this one. Short, clear, and polite is perfect.

Section 6: Today’s Practice

Your Day 9 Task: Say these aloud three times: Zhège duōshao qián? Tài guì le. Hěn piányi. Wǒ yào zhège. Then practice this small shopping talk by yourself: Zhège duōshao qián? … Hǎo, wǒ yào zhège. Xièxie. Record your voice and listen. Check if you are clear and confident.

Section 7: Quick Self-Check

Can you ask “How much is this?” in Chinese? Yes or No. Can you say “Too expensive” or “Very cheap”? Yes or No. Can you say “I want this one”? Yes or No. If yes, great! You can now do simple shopping in Chinese.

✅ You’ve completed Day 9
👉 Next Lesson: Day 10 – Asking for Directions (Where is…?)
🔙 Back to Full Course: Spoken Chinese for Beginners