immersionlog

いくら・いくつ

how much (price), how many / how old

いくら ですか / いくつ ありますか

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いくら asks a price or an amount of money: これはいくらですか, "how much is this?"

いくつ asks how many, for things counted with つ: りんごはいくつありますか, "how many apples are there?" It also asks age, politely: おいくつですか, "how old are you?"

For things with their own counter, 何 goes in front of the counter instead: 何人 (how many people), 何本 (how many bottles), 何枚 (how many sheets).

Mixing up いくら and いくつ is one of the most common first-trip-to-Japan slips, and shop staff will usually understand anyway.

Examples

  • このシャツはいくらですか。

    How much is this shirt?

  • りんごはいくつありますか。

    How many apples are there?

  • 妹いもうとさんはいくつですか。

    How old is your little sister?

  • 全部ぜんぶでいくらですか。

    How much is it altogether?

  • 卵たまごをいくつ買かいましたか。

    How many eggs did you buy?

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