块, 毛 and 分 for Saying Prices
Say Chinese prices out loud with 块, 毛 and 分, and know when the last unit can be dropped.
Pattern
number + 块 (+ number + 毛) (+ number + 分) (+ 钱)
In speech, 块, 毛 and 分 are the units of Chinese money; the last unit is often dropped, so 两块五 means 2.50.
这个面包两块五。
When to use 块, 毛 and 分 for Saying Prices
Chinese money has three units: 1 块 = 10 毛 = 100 分. Say the number first, then the unit, from the biggest unit to the smallest. You can add 钱 (“money”) at the end: 五块钱.
这本书二十块钱。
This book costs twenty yuan.
一个苹果五毛钱。
An apple costs fifty cents (half a yuan).
这个面包三块五毛。
This bread costs 3.50 yuan.
这个多少钱？——十二块。
How much is this? — Twelve yuan.
Common traps
- Say 两块, not 二块, when 2 stands alone before a money unit.
- 三块五 means 3.50; for 3.05 say 三块零五分.
- Use 块 and 毛 when you speak; 元 and 角 mostly appear in writing.
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