Understanding prices is essential at the market. Here are important numbers:

• 一百 (yì bǎi) = 100
• 两百 (liǎng bǎi) = 200
• 一千 (yì qiān) = 1,000
• 两千 (liǎng qiān) = 2,000
• 三千 (sān qiān) = 3,000

When you go to the market in China, you will hear these phrases:

1. 你要买什么？ (Nǐ yào mǎi shénme?)

   • "What do you want to buy?"

2. 大米一公斤多少钱？ (Dàmǐ yì gōngjīn duōshao qián?)

   • "How much is one kilogram of rice?"

3. 给你钱。 (Gěi nǐ qián.)

   • "Here is the money."

4. 还要什么？ (Hái yào shénme?)

   • "What else do you want?"

5. 一共多少钱？ (Yígòng duōshao qián?)

   • "How much in total?"

Here is a typical market dialogue from the textbook. Study how the customer listens and responds:

Shopkeeper: 你好！大米一公斤多少钱？ (Nǐ hǎo! Dàmǐ yì gōngjīn duōshao qián?) "Hello! How much is one kilogram of rice?"

Customer: 你好！大米一公斤三千先令。 (Nǐ hǎo! Dàmǐ yì gōngjīn sān qiān xiānlìng.) "Hello! One kilogram of rice is 3,000 shillings."

Customer: 我要两公斤，一共多少钱？ (Wǒ yào liǎng gōngjīn, yígòng duōshao qián?) "I want two kilograms, how much in total?"

Shopkeeper: 六千先令。 (Liù qiān xiānlìng.) "6,000 shillings."

Customer: 好的，给你钱。 (Hǎo de, gěi nǐ qián.) "OK, here is the money."

Shopkeeper: 谢谢！这是你的大米。 (Xièxie! Zhè shì nǐ de dàmǐ.) "Thank you! Here is your rice."

When you are at the market, follow these steps:

1. Listen carefully to what the shopkeeper says
2. Understand the price - if you don't know, ask "多少钱？" (duōshao qián?)
3. Respond appropriately - say how much you want (e.g., "我要两公斤")
4. Confirm the total - ask "一共多少钱？"
5. Pay the money - say "给你钱"

Based on the dialogue above, answer:

1. How much is one kilogram of rice? _______________
2. How much does the customer want to buy? _______________
3. How much does the customer pay in total? _______________

In Tanzania, you can use these listening skills when visiting local markets like Mtwara Mikoko or Mwananyamala. For example, if you want to buy 2 kilograms of rice at a local duka and the shopkeeper says "Shilingi elfu sita" (6,000 shillings), you can now understand the price and respond correctly by counting your money and confirming the total before paying.