Lesson 2: Asking About Prices in Daily Life

Lesson 2: A beginner-friendly guide to asking prices in Vietnamese. Learn key phrases like "Bao nhiêu tiền?" and how to shop confidently in local markets.

Learn Vietnamese • Beginner ⏱ 15 min read

Asking About Prices
For Daily Life

In this lesson, you will learn simple Vietnamese sentences to ask about prices and handle basic buying situations in Vietnam.

These phrases are widely used in local markets, small shops, and everyday transactions, and they work well even if you only know a little Vietnamese.

1. Key Words & Phrases

Here are the essential words and phrases you need. Don’t worry about grammar yet — focus on meaning and confidence.

Bao nhiêu tiền? How much is it? The most common way to ask the price of something.

Cái này bao nhiêu tiền? How much is this? Use this when pointing at an item.

Một ký One kilogram Commonly used when buying fruit, vegetables, or meat.

Rẻ hơn được không? Can it be cheaper? A polite and friendly way to ask for a lower price.

Được không? Is it okay? / Can I? A very useful phrase in many situations.

Tôi lấy cái này I’ll take this Use this when you decide to buy something.

2. Pronunciation Tips (Simple Explanation)

How to sound natural:

• Bao nhiêu → sounds like "bao nyew"
• Tiền → sounds like "tee-en"
• Rẻ → sounds like "reh", short and light
• Ký → sounds like "kee"

Tip: You do not need perfect tones. Speak slowly and clearly.

3. Practical Usage: When & How

Knowing the phrase is good. Knowing when to use it is better.

Use these phrases when:

• Shopping at local markets.
• Buying food or drinks from small shops.
• Purchasing daily items (water, fruit, snacks).

Quick guide:

• Use "Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?" when pointing at an item.
• Use "Bao nhiêu tiền một ký?" for food sold by weight.
• Use "Rẻ hơn được không?" with a smile — it sounds polite, not rude.
• Use "Tôi lấy cái này" when you are ready to buy.

4. Example Dialogues (Song Ngữ)

Let’s see these phrases in action.

🍎 Dialogue 1: Buying Fruit at a Market

Buyer (A) Cái này bao nhiêu tiền? How much is this?

Seller (B) Bốn mươi nghìn một ký. Forty thousand dong per kilo.

Buyer (A) Rẻ hơn một chút được không? Can it be a little cheaper?

Seller (B) Ba mươi lăm nghìn nhé. Thirty-five thousand, okay.

Buyer (A) Dạ, tôi lấy một ký. Yes, I’ll take one kilo.

🥤 Dialogue 2: Buying a Drink at a Small Shop

Customer (A) Chai nước này bao nhiêu tiền? How much is this bottle of water?

Shop Owner (B) Mười lăm nghìn. Fifteen thousand.

Customer (A) Dạ, cảm ơn. Okay, thank you.

5. Common Mistakes Beginners Make

• Using only English when asking prices.
• Speaking too fast because of nervousness.
• Thinking bargaining is rude (it is normal in markets, not in malls).

Vietnamese sellers usually appreciate polite effort, even with simple sentences.

6. Practice Tip (Real-Life Action)

🚀 Challenge for Today:

At a market or small shop, ask one price in Vietnamese:

“Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?”

Even if the conversation continues in English, starting in Vietnamese builds confidence quickly.

Final Notes

Asking about prices is one of the most useful Vietnamese skills for daily life. Short sentences, a friendly tone, and simple words are enough. This lesson focuses on real communication, not textbook perfection.

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Vietnam Explained

This lesson is part of the “Learn Vietnamese” series.

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