Asking someone's salary
Informal Can sound rude
What it really means
Asking "How much do you earn?" is considered very private and usually impolite in Britain, even between friends. Money is one of the topics people avoid. If you're curious about pay in a job, ask generally: "What does that kind of job usually pay?"
Chinese explanation
在英国问别人"你赚多少钱"被认为非常隐私、通常很失礼，即使朋友之间也是。钱是大家回避的话题之一。想了解某行业薪水，可以泛泛地问："这类工作一般薪水多少？"
Example conversation
A: I nearly asked my flatmate his salary yesterday.
B: Careful — asking someone's salary here is seen as quite personal. Ask about the job in general instead.
A：我昨天差点问室友工资多少。
B：小心——在这里问别人工资是很私人的问题。可以改问那个行业大概的情况。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake