多少钱 vs 几块 (duōshao qián vs jǐ kuài): asking the price
Both 多少钱 and 几块 ask 'how much?', but with different assumptions. 多少钱 is the general, neutral price question for any amount. 几块 is informal and assumes the answer will be a small integer number of yuan (typically under 10, e.g., 两块五). Use 多少钱 when you have no expectation; use 几块 for cheap items in casual conversation.
The two phrases both ask for a price, but differ in specificity and register. 多少钱 (duōshao qián) is the universal 'how much does it cost?' – it works for any item, any price range, in any setting. 几块 (jǐ kuài) is a colloquial alternative that assumes the price is a small number of yuan (typically under 10) and often implies a quick, informal transaction. In practice, 多少钱 is always correct, while 几块 adds a tone of familiarity and low cost.
When to use each
Use 多少钱 as the standard, neutral question for any price, regardless of amount. It is appropriate in all contexts—formal or informal, for any item, price range, or store. This is the safest choice when you have no expectation of the price.
Use 几块 in informal spoken Chinese to ask for a price you expect to be a small number of yuan (typically under 10). It assumes the answer will be an integer or a small decimal like 五块五. It is common for inexpensive items like street food, snacks, or small daily goods. It is also natural for prices with fractional yuan, e.g., 两块五 (2.5 yuan).
几块 implies the speaker expects a low price and often sounds more colloquial. It is not wrong to use for prices with cents (分) as long as the whole number part is small.
At a glance
| 多少钱 | 几块 | |
|---|---|---|
| Assumption about price range | Any amount (from cents to thousands) | Small amount (under ~10 yuan; can stretch to ~20 in very casual speech) |
| Register | Neutral, all registers (formal, written, spoken) | Informal, spoken (rare in formal writing) |
| Use with decimals or cents | Natural (e.g., 一百零五块三) | Common (e.g., 两块五; blocks with 毛/分 are acceptable) |
| Safety for learners | Always correct; no risk of sounding odd | Only when confident price is low; can sound inappropriate for expensive items |
Examples
- 多少钱这个多少钱？Zhège duōshao qián?How much is this?Neutral price question; works for any item.
- 几块这个几块？Zhège jǐ kuài?How many yuan is this?Uses 几块 because the speaker expects a low price (e.g., a street snack).
- 多少钱这本书多少钱？Zhè běn shū duōshao qián?How much is this book?Appropriate regardless of the book's price.
- 几块矿泉水几块？Kuàngquánshuǐ jǐ kuài?How many yuan is the bottled water?Natural for a cheap item; answer would be like 两块.
- 多少钱这个电脑多少钱？Zhège diànnǎo duōshao qián?How much is this computer?For expensive items, 多少钱 is required; 几块 would sound odd.
Common mistakes
- Using 几块 for expensive items like cars or electronics (e.g., 这辆车几块？)—use 多少钱.
- Thinking 几块 cannot be used for prices with decimals (e.g., 两块五 is completely natural).
- Overusing 几块 in formal situations like a department store—use 多少钱 to be polite.
- Assuming 多少钱 is too formal for street markets—it's actually perfectly natural and neutral.
FAQ
- When do I use 多少钱 vs 几块?
- Use 多少钱 as your default—it works in any situation. Use 几块 only when you are in an informal setting and expect the price to be a small integer number of yuan (under about 10). For example, ask '这个几块？' at a street stall for a cheap snack, but '这个多少钱？' for an unfamiliar item.
- Can I use 几块 for a price like 2.5 yuan?
- Yes. You can ask '这个几块？' and the answer can be '两块五' (2.5 yuan). 几块 does not require an integer answer; it simply assumes the whole part is small.
- Is 几块 only for amounts under 10?
- Generally yes. In very casual speech, you might hear 几块 for 10–20 yuan (e.g., '这顿饭几块？' for a meal that costs 15 yuan), but this is less standard. For amounts above 20, 多少钱 is expected.