学生Chinese for you Money and shopping

Explanations and Practice

1. (jīn) is a common unit of measurement for weight in China. It is equivalent to half a kilogram, so 两斤 (two jin) is 1kg. 

2. To ask about the price, we use the phrase 多少钱 (duōshao qián)? 

To answer, we use the following words: …… (… kuài)

“Kuài” stands for “yuan”, so 3¥ is “三块”   and 2¥ is “两块”

“Kuài” is used in spoken Chinese. In written form, you will see the character , which reads as yuán. Also, note that “kuài” technically is a measure word (sometimes people will say the full phrase “块钱”, for example, 三块钱. Therefore, for 2¥ we say 两块 rather than 二块.)

Smaller units of the currency, unlike in English, are usually counted not in 1/100 of a yuan, but in “máo” (1/10 of a yuan): …………(毛)  

So 3.40¥ is „three kuai 4 mao“ and 2.5¥ is “two kuai five mao”. Good news is that the word “mao” is usually omitted, so all you need to remember is that the units you are using are 1/10 of a yuan, not 1/100.

So 3.40¥ in Chinese is “三块四”   and 2.5¥ is “两块五”

1/100 of a yuan does exist and it is called “fen”. However, it is such a small unit that it is not used on a daily basis. Still, it is possible that you will see fen somewhere. To express a price with fen, we would use the following construction: ………………, e.g. 3.45¥ is …“三块四毛五”

Exercise 1

Write the numbers in Chinese.

  • èr
  • sān
  • liù
  • jiŭ
  • shí
  • băi
  • Olíng
109 -
983 -
657 -
430 -
780 -

Exercise 2

How much is it?

16.70¥ -
300¥ -
8.90¥ -
72.60¥ -
102.50¥ -
26¥ -
5.50¥ -

Exercise 3

Put these sentences into correct order to reconstruct a dialogue between Marie and a shop assistant.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

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average evaluation for this lesson: 7.5

Latest comments

  • Massimo Imperiali
    30.10.2020 21:54
    buono...
  • SAMUEL NASCIMENTO
    29.12.2019 22:21
    legal. muito bom.
  • Paweł Płachecki
    19.11.2019 21:14
    Good
  • Wojciech Frol
    02.02.2014 20:21
    Dobrze się targuje
  • luminita patrascan
    29.10.2013 14:27
    bun !!!
  • Marius Lapė
    29.05.2013 10:50
    Meie riigis on see teisiti.
  • Esztora Petőfi
    16.05.2013 18:47
    A párbeszéd élethű.
  • Blanka Slavik
    14.05.2013 11:05
    Čo si myslíš o cvičeniach?
  • Vaclav Vrana
    14.05.2013 11:04
    Fajn dialog
  • Valdek Pall
    13.05.2013 14:26
    Kasulikud ja head manused.
  • Donata Cazacu
    13.05.2013 11:15
    Bine înregistrat.
  • Андрей Врабчев
    10.05.2013 14:57
    Диалогът е интересен.

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