太贵了
tài guì le
In Chinese, the phrase for "too expensive" is 太贵了 (tài guì le).
太贵了 is used to say that the price of something is higher than what one is willing to pay. This phrase is frequently used as a starting point for bargaining in markets or street stalls.
What does it mean word for word?
The structure 太 (tài) … 了 (le) is a common pattern used to express 'too [adjective]' or 'excessively [adjective]'.
Which one should you use?
For example, 价格太高 (jià gé tài gāo) literally translates to "price is too high," and 超贵 (chāo guì) means "super expensive."
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle 了 (le) at the end of the phrase functions as a grammatical marker indicating a change of state or an exclamation of an extreme degree.
How do you pronounce it?
tài guì le
Did you know?
- While English speakers say something is 'a rip-off', a common Chinese way to express a similarly extreme sense of being overcharged is to say it is 宰 (zǎi), which means 'to slaughter'.
- The word 贵 (guì), meaning 'expensive', is also used to politely address someone of high social status or a respected elder in formal letters, acting as a honorific similar to 'honorable'.
- If a price is so high it feels insulting, some might use the term 离谱 (lí pǔ), which literally translates to 'off the谱' (off the musical score).
Examples in context
- 可是太贵了！But it's too expensive!This sentence shows how to use the phrase as an exclamation.Tatoeba #4761402 by billt_estates, translation #2229996 by jgauthier
- 这儿的蓝莓也太贵了。These blueberries were too expensive.This sentence demonstrates using the phrase to describe the cost of a specific item, like blueberries.Tatoeba #7771939 by jiangche, translation #7782273 by sharris123
- 这本书对我而言太贵了。This book is too expensive for me.This sentence shows how to express that an item is too expensive for a specific person.Tatoeba #9961247 by GlossaMatik, translation #586669 by CK
- 这件手提包太贵了！This handbag is too expensive!
- 这份礼物超贵啊！This gift is super expensive!
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a clothing store in a mall.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，你看这件外套怎么样？Xiǎowén, nǐ kàn zhè jiàn wàitào zěnmeyàng?Xiaowen, what do you think of this coat?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我觉得太贵了。Wǒ juéde tài guì le.I think it is too expensive.
- 俊杰 Junjie那我们去找便宜一点的吧。Nà wǒmen qù zhǎo piányí yīdiǎn de ba.Then let's go find something a bit cheaper.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好，走吧。Hǎo, zǒu ba.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
