How to Say "Cheap" in Chinese

便宜

piányi

The Chinese word for 'cheap' is 便宜 (piányi). Wiktionary also lists 賤 / 贱 (jiàn).

Meaning: low and/or reduced in price (adj)

Ways to say it

“cheap” in Chinese
Chinese	Romanization (Wiktionary)
便宜	piányi
賤 / 贱	jiàn

The most common and widely used term for "cheap" in Chinese is 便宜.

便宜 refers to a low price. In contrast, 贱 refers to something being low in social status or being 'cheap' in a derogatory, contemptuous sense.

As an adjective meaning 'low price', the second syllable of 便宜 is often pronounced with a neutral tone (piányi).

piányi

English speakers should avoid using 贱 to describe low prices, as it is a strong insult implying a lack of dignity or worthiness.

The character 便宜 originally related to 'convenience' and 'ease' before it became the standard term for 'low cost'.
The character 贱 (jiàn) contains the radical for 'shell' or 'cowrie' (貝), which was used as currency in ancient China.
While 便宜 usually means 'cheap' in price, it can also mean 'an advantage' or 'a benefit' in certain contexts, such as when someone takes advantage of a situation.

這鋼琴真便宜。
This piano is really cheap.
This sentence shows how to use 便宜 to describe a piano.
Tatoeba #6169147 by verdastelo9604, translation #3825783 by CK
这个相机很便宜。
This camera is cheap.
This sentence demonstrates using 便宜 to describe a camera.
Tatoeba #8795147 by crescat, translation #463260 by lukaszpp
蘋果現在很便宜。
Apples are cheap now.
This sentence illustrates the use of 便宜 regarding the price of apples.
Tatoeba #13167046 by LeviHighway, translation #6357327 by CK
这件衣服很便宜。
This garment is very cheap.
这是一个廉价的解决方案。
This is an inexpensive solution.
这是个便宜货，质量不好。
This is a cheap product, the quality is not good.
你可以便宜点卖给我吗？
Can you sell it to me a bit cheaper?
这个东西很便宜啦！
This thing is really cheap!
这个价格真划算！
This price is really cheap!
40 more sentences on Tatoeba

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏