How do I say 'how much'?

多少钱 is the phrase that pays for itself on day one in China. It works everywhere: street stalls, high-end stores, restaurants, taxis. The grammar is simple — 多少 (how much) + 钱 (money) — but the cultural layer matters.

In markets, 怎么卖 (“how is it sold”) is the insider alternative. It asks about unit pricing (per jin, per item, per bundle) and signals that you know prices aren’t fixed. This one word choice can affect the price you get.

The 多少 vs 几 distinction is fundamental: 多少 for unknown or large quantities, 几 for small countable numbers. When guessing, if the answer might be more than about 10, use 多少. 几个人？suggests you expect a handful of people; 多少人？is open-ended.

For the full market negotiation script, see related: too-expensive, cheaper-please, and i-want-to-buy.