What is いくら (ikura)?
いくら is specifically used to ask "how much" when referring to price or cost. It's the most common way to ask about money.
いくらですか？
"How much is it?"
全部でいくらですか？
"How much is everything?"
Basic Usage
いくらですか？
これはいくらですか？
"How much is this?"
それはいくらですか？
"How much is that?"
全部でいくらですか？
"How much is everything (in total)?"
Shopping Contexts
At a Store
これはいくらですか？
"How much is this?"
あれはいくらですか？
"How much is that over there?"
一つ、いくらですか？
"How much is one?"
1キロいくらですか？
"How much per kilogram?"
Asking About Specific Items
このりんごはいくらですか？
"How much are these apples?"
そのシャツはいくらですか？
"How much is that shirt?"
この本はいくらですか？
"How much is this book?"
Common Patterns
全部で (zenbu de) - "In total"
全部でいくらですか？
"How much is everything?"
合計でいくらですか？
"What's the total?"
一つ/一個 (hitotsu/ikko) - "Per one"
一つ、いくらですか？
"How much is one?"
一個いくらですか？
"How much per piece?"
まで (made) - "Up to"
いくらまで出せますか？
"How much can you pay (up to)?"
いくらまで安くなりますか？
"How cheap can it get?"
Answering いくら Questions
Specific Prices
Q: いくらですか？
"How much is it?"
A: 1000円です
"It's 1000 yen"
A: 500円です
"It's 500 yen"
A: 3万円です
"It's 30,000 yen"
With Counters
100円です
"It's 100 yen"
1ドルです
"It's 1 dollar"
50ユーロです
"It's 50 euros"
Common Conversations
Example 1: Shopping
A: すみません、これはいくらですか？
"Excuse me, how much is this?"
B: 2000円です
"It's 2000 yen"
A: 少し高いですね
"That's a bit expensive"
B: セール中です
"It's on sale"
Example 2: Restaurant
A: お会計お願いします
"Check please"
B: はい、全部で3500円です
"Yes, that's 3500 yen in total"
A: カードでお願いします
"Card please"
Example 3: Taxi
A: 駅までいくらぐらいですか？
"About how much to the station?"
B: だいたい1000円ぐらいです
"About 1000 yen or so"
A: お願いします
"Please (take me)"
Related Expressions
高い (takai) - Expensive
高いですね
"That's expensive"
高すぎます
"That's too expensive"
安い (yasui) - Cheap
安いですね
"That's cheap"
もっと安いのはありますか？
"Do you have anything cheaper?"
値段 (nedan) - Price
値段はいくらですか？
"What's the price?"
値段を教えてください
"Please tell me the price"
Bargaining Phrases
もっと安く (motto yasuku)
もっと安くなりませんか？
"Can it be cheaper?"
もっと安くしてください
"Please make it cheaper"
値引き (nebiki) - Discount
値引きできますか？
"Can you give a discount?"
少し値引きしてください
"Please give a small discount"
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using いくら for non-price questions
Wrong: どのくらいですか？ for price ❌
Right: いくらですか？ ✓
"How much is it?" (price)
Wrong: いくらかかりますか？ for time ❌
Right: どのくらいかかりますか？ ✓
"How long does it take?" (duration)
Mistake 2: Confusing with いくつ
いくら - how much (price)
いくつ - how many / how old
これはいくらですか？ ✓
"How much is this?" (price)
いくつありますか？ ✓
"How many are there?" (quantity)
Polite Variations
Casual
いくら？
"How much?"
これ、いくら？
"How much is this?"
Polite
いくらですか？
"How much is it?"
おいくらですか？
"How much is it?" (more polite with お)
Very Polite
おいくらでございますか？
"How much is it?" (very polite)
Special Uses
いくらでも (ikura demo)
"As much as (you want)/any amount":
いくらでも食べていい
"You can eat as much as you want"
いくらでもあげる
"I'll give you as much as you want"
いくら〜ても (ikura ~ temo)
"No matter how much":
いくら高くても買う
"I'll buy it no matter how expensive"
いくら安くても買わない
"I won't buy it no matter how cheap"
Practice Sentences
Basic Shopping
これはいくらですか？
"How much is this?"
それはいくらですか？
"How much is that?"
全部でいくらですか？
"How much is everything?"
Specific Items
このりんごはいくらですか？
"How much are these apples?"
そのシャツはいくらですか？
"How much is that shirt?"
一つ、いくらですか？
"How much is one?"
Services
タクシーでいくらぐらいですか？
"About how much by taxi?"
入場料はいくらですか？
"How much is the entrance fee?"
送料はいくらですか？
"How much is shipping?"
Polite
おいくらですか？
"How much is it?"
お値段はおいくらですか？
"What is the price?"
Related Grammar Points
- Question Words (5W1H) - Overview
- どのくらい - How much/long (duration)
- いくつ - How many/old
- Counters - Money counters
- Numbers - Japanese numbers
- Shopping expressions - Retail phrases