When you are traveling in China or living here long-term, one word you will use surprisingly often is expensive. Whether you are haggling at a market, comparing prices online, or just complaining about rent in Shanghai, knowing how to say expensive in Chinese is essential. The word is 贵 (guì), and it is one of the most practical adjectives in the entire language.
With twelve years in Tianjin, HSK5, Intercultural Studies background, I have heard 贵 thousands of times, from taxi drivers warning me about tourist traps to friends joking about how much I paid for imported cheese. In this guide, I will show you exactly how to use 贵, when to use related words like 太贵了 (tài guì le), and why Chinese culture has a complicated relationship with discussing price openly.
If you are building your shopping vocabulary, you might also want to check out my guides on the word for cheap and asking about prices. Those pair perfectly with what you are about to learn here. You can also explore shopping vocabulary to round out your market skills.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- The Chinese word for “expensive” is 贵 (guì), pronounced with a falling fourth tone.
- To say “too expensive,” use 太贵了 (tài guì le), which is perfect for bargaining.
- Chinese culture has a strong bargaining tradition in markets, but fixed prices are normal in malls and supermarkets.
Core Ways to Say Expensive in Chinese
贵 (guì) – The Basic Word
贵 is the standard, neutral word for “expensive.” It is an adjective, so you typically pair it with 很 (hěn, very) or use it in comparisons.
Chinese: 这个很贵。
Pinyin: Zhè gè hěn guì.
English: This is very expensive.
The character 贵 combines 中 (zhōng, middle) and 贝 (bèi, shell/cowrie), which historically represented money. Cowrie shells were used as currency in ancient China, so 贵 literally connects to the concept of value and money. You can look up 贵 in Pleco dictionary to see more example sentences. If you want to dive deeper into Chinese characters, my post on money vocabulary covers more about how prices and value work in Mandarin.
太贵了 (tài guì le) – Too Expensive
When you want to express that something costs more than you are willing to pay, use 太贵了. This phrase is your best friend when bargaining at markets across China.
Chinese: 太贵了！能便宜一点吗？
Pinyin: Tài guì le! Néng pián yi yī diǎn ma?
English: Too expensive! Can it be a little cheaper?
If you are shopping in China, you will use this phrase constantly. ChineseClass101 has excellent audio lessons on bargaining phrases. For more shopping vocabulary, check out my guide on market vocabulary. You can also learn useful bill-related phrases for when you are ready to pay.
Comparing Prices
Chinese uses 比 (bǐ) for comparisons, just like English uses “than.”
Chinese: 这个比那个贵。
Pinyin: Zhè gè bǐ nà gè guì.
English: This is more expensive than that.
Chinese: 上海的房租比天津贵多了。
Pinyin: Shàng hǎi de fáng zū bǐ Tiān jīn guì duō le.
English: Shanghai rent is much more expensive than Tianjins.
Related Vocabulary
Money and Price Words
- 便宜 (pián yi) – cheap
- 价格 (jià gé) – price
- 价钱 (jià qián) – price (colloquial)
- 打折 (dǎ zhé) – discount
- 免费 (miǎn fèi) – free
- 值得 (zhí de) – worth it
Shopping Phrases
- 多少钱？ (duō shǎo qián?) – How much?
- 有折扣吗？ (yǒu zhé kòu ma?) – Is there a discount?
- 能不能便宜点？ (néng bu néng pián yi diǎn?) – Can it be cheaper?
- 我再看看 (wǒ zài kàn kan) – I will look around (classic bargaining tactic)
For more money-related vocabulary, see my post on wallet vocabulary. YellowBridge is another great resource for Chinese vocabulary related to shopping and prices. If you are traveling and need to compare costs, my guide on hotel booking phrases has useful phrases for checking room rates.
Cultural Context
The Bargaining Culture
In China, bargaining is an art form, especially in outdoor markets, tourist areas, and small shops. The sticker price is often just the opening bid. When a vendor quotes a price, they expect you to counter with 太贵了 and negotiate downward.
However, in supermarkets, shopping malls, and chain stores, prices are fixed. Trying to bargain at a Walmart or Starbucks will just get you confused looks. The key is reading the room. If there is no price tag, you can probably bargain. If there is a barcode, pay the listed price.
I learned this the hard way at the Silk Market in Beijing. A vendor quoted me 800 yuan for a scarf. I said 太贵了, countered with 100, and we eventually settled on 150. That is just how it works. For more on navigating Chinese markets, check out market shopping tips. You might also enjoy Drops for quick daily vocabulary practice.
Talking About Money
Here is a cultural nuance that trips up many foreigners: in China, it is generally acceptable to ask about price openly. Friends might ask how much your apartment costs, how much you earn, or how much you paid for your phone. This is not considered rude; it is casual curiosity.
However, calling something 贵 in front of the person who bought it can be impolite. If your friend shows you their new watch, do not say 很贵吗？ (Was it expensive?) unless you know them very well. Instead, say 很漂亮 (Very beautiful) or 我喜欢你的表 (I like your watch).
Practical Usage
Example Scenarios
At a market:
Chinese: 这个多少钱？
Pinyin: Zhè gè duō shǎo qián?
English: How much is this?
Vendor: 两百块。
Pinyin: Liǎng bǎi kuài.
English: Two hundred yuan.
You: 太贵了！一百块可以吗？
Pinyin: Tài guì le! Yī bǎi kuài kě yǐ ma?
English: Too expensive! Can you do one hundred?
Talking about rent:
Chinese: 北京的房租真贵。
Pinyin: Běi jīng de fáng zū zhēn guì.
English: Beijing rent is really expensive.
Comparing restaurants:
Chinese: 这家餐厅比那家贵，但是更好吃。
Pinyin: Zhè jiā cān tīng bǐ nà jiā guì, dàn shì gèng hǎo chī.
English: This restaurant is more expensive than that one, but the food is better. You can learn more restaurant vocabulary in my post on restaurant phrases.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using 贵 for “high quality.” 贵 means expensive, not high quality. Use 好 (hǎo) or 高质量 (gāo zhì liàng) for quality.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the tone. 贵 is fourth tone (guì), not first tone. Saying it wrong might confuse people.
Mistake 3: Saying 贵 about gifts. This is considered rude in Chinese culture. Compliment the gift instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions
What is the difference between 贵 and 便宜?
贵 (guì) means expensive, while 便宜 (pián yi) means cheap. They are direct opposites and are commonly used together when comparing prices. For more on prices, read discount phrases.
How do you say “it is too expensive” in Chinese?
太贵了 (tài guì le) means “it is too expensive.” This is the phrase you will use most often when bargaining or expressing that something costs more than you want to pay.
Is bargaining common in China?
Yes, bargaining is very common in outdoor markets, tourist areas, and small independent shops. However, supermarkets, chain stores, and restaurants typically have fixed prices. If you are traveling, my guide on airport vocabulary can help with transportation costs too.
What does 打折 mean?
打折 (dǎ zhé) means “discount.” If something is 八折 (bā zhé), it means 20% off, or 80% of the original price. Chinese discounts are expressed as the percentage you will actually pay.
Can I use 贵 to describe quality?
No, 贵 only refers to price, not quality. For high quality, use 好 (hǎo, good) or 高质量 (gāo zhì liàng, high quality). Something can be 贵 but not 好, or 便宜 but very 好.
Advanced ways for how to say expensive in Chinese sentences
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Chinese: 虽然这个包很贵，但是质量真的很好。
Pinyin: Suī rán zhè gè bāo hěn guì, dàn shì zhì liàng zhēn de hěn hǎo.
English: Although this bag is expensive, the quality is really good. -
Chinese: 老板，这个价格太贵了，能不能给我打个折？
Pinyin: Lǎo bǎn, zhè gè jià gé tài guì le, néng bu néng gěi wǒ dǎ gè zhé?
English: Boss, this price is too expensive, can you give me a discount? -
Chinese: 上海的物价普遍比二线城市贵很多。
Pinyin: Shàng hǎi de wù jià pǔ biàn bǐ èr xiàn chéng shì guì hěn duō.
English: Prices in Shanghai are generally much more expensive than in second-tier cities. -
Chinese: 我觉得这家酒店太贵了，我们看看别的吧。
Pinyin: Wǒ jué de zhè jiā jiǔ diàn tài guì le, wǒ men kàn kan bié de ba.
English: I think this hotel is too expensive, let’s look at other options. If you travel often, learn taxi phrases to save on transport. -
Chinese: 进口水果在中国总是比较贵。
Pinyin: Jìn kǒu shuǐ guǒ zài Zhōng guó zǒng shì bǐ jiào guì.
English: Imported fruit is always relatively expensive in China.
