A1 Expression Formel

おいくらですか

oikura desu ka

How much is it? (polite)

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this polite phrase to ask for the price of an item in any shop or restaurant.

  • Means: How much is this?
  • Used in: Shops, markets, and restaurants when the price is not displayed.
  • Don't confuse: 'いくら' (casual) with 'おいくらですか' (polite).
Pointing finger + 'おいくらですか' = Clear price information

Explanation at your level:

This is a basic phrase to ask for prices. Use it in shops when you want to buy something.
This phrase is a polite way to inquire about costs. It is essential for daily shopping and travel in Japan.
By utilizing the honorific 'o-', you demonstrate an understanding of social hierarchy in Japanese retail, ensuring your inquiry is received as respectful and appropriate.
The phrase functions as a pragmatic marker of politeness. It navigates the boundary between the customer and the service provider, maintaining the necessary social distance required in Japanese business etiquette.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, 'o-ikura desu ka' exemplifies the use of 'keigo' (honorifics) to frame a simple transactional query within a broader cultural context of mutual respect and social harmony.
This expression illustrates the intersection of morphology and pragmatics, where the prefix 'o-' functions as a grammaticalized marker of deference, transforming a neutral interrogative into a socially calibrated request suitable for formal commercial discourse.

Signification

Polite way to ask the price of something.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Politeness is key in retail. Using 'o-ikura' shows respect to the shopkeeper. In formal settings, 'o-ikura de gozaimasu ka' is even more polite.

💡

Use your hands

Pointing while asking makes it clear what you mean.

Signification

Polite way to ask the price of something.

💡

Use your hands

Pointing while asking makes it clear what you mean.

Teste-toi

Fill in the missing honorific prefix.

____いくらですか？

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : お

The honorific 'o-' is required for the polite form.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

No, it's too formal.

Expressions liées

🔗

いくらですか

similar

How much is it?

🔗

お会計をお願いします

builds on

Check please.

Où l'utiliser

👕

Clothing Store

Customer: すみません、このシャツはおいくらですか？

Clerk: それは3,000円です。

formal
🍎

Market Stall

Customer: これ、おいくらですか？

Vendor: 100円だよ。

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Oh, I cool-a' (O-ikura) price!

Visual Association

Imagine a shopkeeper bowing while you point at a golden apple.

Rhyme

O-ikura, how much is the aura?

Story

You walk into a shop. You see a beautiful vase. You smile at the clerk and ask, 'O-ikura desu ka?' They smile back and tell you the price.

Word Web

いくら値段高い安い買い物店員

Défi

Go to a shop (or imagine one) and ask the price of 5 different items.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Cuánto cuesta?

Japanese requires an honorific prefix for politeness.

French high

Combien ça coûte?

French uses 'combien' (how much) which is less dependent on honorifics.

German high

Wie viel kostet das?

Japanese is more indirect and polite.

Japanese self

おいくらですか

The 'o-' prefix is the key marker of politeness.

Arabic moderate

بكم هذا؟ (Bikam hadha?)

Arabic is more direct than the Japanese honorific style.

Easily Confused

おいくらですか vs いくら

Learners forget the 'o' prefix.

Always add 'o' in shops.

FAQ (1)

No, it's too formal.

C'tait utile ?

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