How to ask how much something costs in Japanese
これはいくらですか。
kore wa ikura desu ka.
“How much is this?”
When: Asking a price at a shop or stall
The moment
You are browsing a souvenir stall in Asakusa. You want to find out what two different items cost and react to the prices before you decide.
A1 · Unit 1 · First words
The lines
How much is it?
Point at the item and ask 「これはいくらですか。」 The answer comes back as a number plus 円, for example 「800円です。」
これはいくらですか。
kore wa ikura desu ka.
“How much is this?”
When to use it: Asking a price at a shop or stall
What you’ll hear back: 800円です。 happyaku en desu. (It's 800 yen.)
Saying it's pricey, politely
「ちょっと高いですね。」 means that's a bit expensive. The 「ちょっと」 softens it, so it sounds like thinking out loud rather than a complaint.
ちょっと高いですね。
chotto takai desu ne.
“It's a little expensive, isn't it?”
When to use it: Reacting to a price you weren't expecting
What you’ll hear back: そうですね。こちらはお安いですよ。 sō desu ne. kochira wa o-yasui desu yo. (True — this one is cheaper.)
Words for this scene
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ひとつください | hitotsu kudasai | One, please |
これをひとつください。 I'll take one of these, please. Tip: Point while you say it; swap in futatsu for two. | ||
| 安いですね | yasui desu ne | That's cheap, isn't it |
この傘、安いですね。 This umbrella is cheap, isn't it? Tip: Fine about shop prices; never say it about a gift. | ||
| 千円 | sen'en | 1,000 yen |
全部で千円です。 That's 1,000 yen altogether. Tip: Small stalls are cash only — keep 千円 notes handy. | ||
Your objective
Ask what two different things cost, then say which one you’ll take and how many.
- the price of two things
- which one you want
- how many
Lines that get it done
- これはいくらですか。
- ひとつください · hitotsu kudasai · One, please
- ちょっと高いですね。
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You are holding a keychain at the stall. How do you ask what it costs?
- これはいくらですか。
- これは高いですか。
- これをひとつください。
- これはどうですか。
Show the answer
これはいくらですか。
「いくら」 is the word for how much, so 「これはいくらですか」 asks the price of the thing in your hand.
2. The vendor says 「はっぴゃくえんです。」 What is the price?
- 800円
- 8,000円
- 80円
- 180円
Show the answer
800円
「はっぴゃく」 is 800, so the item costs 800円 — about the price of a lunch set.
3. The price is higher than you expected and you want to say so without sounding rude.
- ちょっと高いですね。
- ちょっと安いですね。
- とても元気ですね。
- これをひとつください。
Show the answer
ちょっと高いですね。
Adding 「ちょっと」 keeps the comment gentle instead of sounding like a complaint.