Keywords: jiage, jiàgé, 价格, Chinese for price, how to ask price in Chinese, cost in Mandarin, 价格 meaning, shopping in China vocabulary, bargaining in Chinese, jiage vs jiaqian
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 价格 (jiàgé), which means “price” or “cost.” This fundamental term is your key to shopping, dining, and navigating daily commerce in China. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in bargaining, and practical usage with over 10 example sentences, helping you understand how to ask for and discuss the price of anything in Mandarin Chinese.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): jiàgé
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 2
Concise Definition: The amount of money required as payment for an item or service.
In a Nutshell: `价格` is the most standard and versatile word for “price.” Think of it as the number you see on a price tag in a store, the amount listed on a menu, or the figure quoted for a service. It's a neutral, factual term used in almost every situation where money is exchanged for goods.
Character Breakdown
价 (jià): This character means “price” or “value.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and a phonetic component on the right. This suggests that price is a value determined by people.
格 (gé): This character means “standard,” “pattern,” or “grid.” It implies a rule, a framework, or a certain level.
Together, 价格 (jiàgé) literally translates to “price standard.” This combination creates a formal and established sense of a set price, distinguishing it from a more abstract idea of “worth” or a casually discussed “cost.”
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, the concept of `价格` is often more fluid than in many Western contexts, especially in informal settings like markets or small shops. The listed `价格` is frequently seen as a starting point for a negotiation, not a final command.
This leads to the common practice of 讨价还价 (tǎo jià huán jià), or “bargaining.” For many vendors and customers, this back-and-forth is a normal and expected part of the transaction. It's a social dance as much as a financial one.
Contrast with Western “Fixed Price” Culture: While large department stores, chain restaurants, and supermarkets in China have fixed prices (不讲价 - bù jiǎng jià), the flexibility of `价格` in smaller venues contrasts with the generally fixed-price culture in places like the United States or the UK, where bargaining is rare outside of specific situations like buying a car. Understanding that a `价格` might be negotiable is a key cultural insight for any learner in China.
Practical Usage in Modern China
In Daily Shopping: This is the most common usage. You use it to ask how much something costs.
e.g., “这个价格是多少？” (What's the price of this?)
Bargaining: It is central to the language of negotiation.
e.g., “价格太高了。” (The price is too high.) or “价格可以便宜一点吗？” (Can the price be a little cheaper?)
Online and Formal Contexts: On e-commerce platforms like Taobao, in business contracts, and on official price lists, `价格` is the standard term used. It is neutral and appropriate for all levels of formality.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
这件衣服的价格是多少？
Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yīfu de jiàgé shì duōshǎo?
English: What is the price of this piece of clothing?
Analysis: A classic, essential question for any shopper. “是多少 (shì duōshǎo)” is the standard way to ask “how much is it?”.
Example 2:
我觉得这个价格太贵了。
Pinyin: Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé tài guì le.
English: I feel that this price is too expensive.
Analysis: A polite but direct way to begin bargaining or to state your opinion on the price. `太…了 (tài…le)` is a common pattern for expressing “too…”
Example 3:
这个价格可以商量吗？
Pinyin: Zhège jiàgé kěyǐ shāngliang ma?
English: Can this price be negotiated?
Analysis: A very useful phrase in markets. `商量 (shāngliang)` means “to discuss” or “to consult,” making this a polite way to ask if bargaining is possible.
Example 4:
他们的价格比我们便宜。
Pinyin: Tāmen de jiàgé bǐ wǒmen piányi.
English: Their price is cheaper than ours.
Analysis: This sentence uses the `比 (bǐ)` structure to make a direct comparison, a fundamental grammar point for beginners.
Example 5:
公司决定调整产品价格。
Pinyin: Gōngsī juédìng tiáozhěng chǎnpǐn jiàgé.
English: The company decided to adjust the product prices.
Analysis: This shows `价格` used in a formal, business context. `调整 (tiáozhěng)` means “to adjust.”
Example 6:
所有的价格都清楚地标明了。
Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de jiàgé dōu qīngchu de biāomíng le.
English: All the prices are clearly marked.
Analysis: `标明 (biāomíng)` means “to mark” or “to indicate.” You'd use this to describe a fixed-price store.
Example 7:
这个价格包含税吗？
Pinyin: Zhège jiàgé bāohán shuì ma?
English: Does this price include tax?
Analysis: A practical question, especially for larger purchases. `包含 (bāohán)` means “to include/contain.”
Example 8:
对不起，我们的价格是固定的。
Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒmen de jiàgé shì gùdìng de.
English: Sorry, our prices are fixed.
Analysis: This is the response you'll likely hear in a department store if you try to bargain. `固定 (gùdìng)` means “fixed.”
Example 9:
蔬菜的价格每天都有变化。
Pinyin: Shūcài de jiàgé měitiān dōu yǒu biànhuà.
English: The price of vegetables changes every day.
Analysis: Illustrates that `价格` can be dynamic. `变化 (biànhuà)` means “change.”
Example 10:
请给我看一下你们的价格表。
Pinyin: Qǐng gěi wǒ kàn yīxià nǐmen de jiàgé biǎo.
English: Please let me see your price list.
Analysis: `价格表 (jiàgé biǎo)` is a useful compound word meaning “price list.”
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`价格 (jiàgé)` vs. `价钱 (jiàqian)`: This is a key nuance.
`价格 (jiàgé)` is slightly more formal and refers to the official “price” or “rate.” It feels like the number on a tag or a menu.
`价钱 (jiàqian)` is more colloquial and translates more closely to “what's the cost in money?” You'd be more likely to hear it spoken in a casual street market.
Mistake: While often interchangeable, using `价格` in a formal business report is better, whereas using `价钱` with a street vendor sounds more natural. Using `价格` with the vendor is not wrong, just a bit stiff.
`价格 (jiàgé)` vs. `成本 (chéngběn)`: This is a common mistake for learners translating from English.
`价格 (jiàgé)` is the selling price (what the customer pays).
`成本 (chéngběn)` is the production cost (what the seller paid to make or acquire it).
Incorrect: ~~这个手机的生产价格是多少？~~ (What is the production price of this phone?)
Correct: 这个手机的生产成本是多少？(What is the production cost of this phone?)
Correct: 这个手机的价格是多少？(What is the price of this phone?)
`价格 (jiàgé)` vs. `费用 (fèiyong)`:
`价格 (jiàgé)` is for a specific, tangible item or a clearly defined service (e.g., price of a book, price of a haircut).
`费用 (fèiyong)` refers to “fees,” “expenses,” or “charges,” which can be broader (e.g., 学费 xuéfèi - tuition fees; 医疗费用 yīliáo fèiyong - medical expenses). You pay a `价格` for an apple, but you pay a `费用` for a university education.
Related Terms and Concepts
价钱 (jiàqian) - A more colloquial and spoken term for “price,” often interchangeable with `价格` in daily conversation.
讨价还价 (tǎo jià huán jià) - The act of bargaining or haggling over the price.
成本 (chéngběn) - The “cost” from the producer's or seller's perspective; the cost of production.
费用 (fèiyong) - Fees, expenses, or charges, typically for services or broader costs rather than a single item.
价值 (jiàzhí) - “Value” or “worth”; a more abstract concept than the monetary `价格`.
打折 (dǎzhé) - To give a discount. A 20% discount is called “打八折 (dǎ bā zhé)”.
免费 (miǎnfèi) - To be free of charge; having no price.