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March 24, 2026
便宜biànyí(bian4yi2)
便宜 (biàn yí) refers to something that is inexpensive or cheap in price. It is commonly used in shopping contexts to describe products that are affordable, and can also imply convenience in some situations.
Strokes17Frequency#2711DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In China, haggling is common in markets, and knowing the word 便宜 can help you negotiate better deals. Many shops highlight their 便宜 prices to attract price-sensitive customers.
Memory Tip
Think of '便' as a bending 'y' shape, suggesting flexibility in price, and '宜' sounds like 'easy', indicating that something is easy to afford. Imagine finding a 'bend in the road' where prices become 'easy' to handle.
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AI Study Notes for 便宜
Quick Contrast
便宜 (biàn yí) vs 便宜的 (pián yí de) — use 便宜 for an adjective describing price; use 便宜的 when modifying a noun.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 便宜 with 贵 (guì), which means expensive. Note that 便宜 can be both formal and informal; in shopping contexts, it’s often used casually. Be careful with tone: saying 'biàn yí' with the wrong tones can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 2 word, 便宜 is essential for discussing prices and shopping. Connect it with other HSK 2 words like 买 (mǎi - buy) and 贵 (guì - expensive) to strengthen your vocabulary around economics and transactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 便宜 in contexts that imply poor quality, like saying '便宜的质量' (cheap quality) when they mean to simply describe a low price. Instead, clarify by saying '价格便宜' (price is cheap) to focus on cost.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 便宜
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How Well Do You Know 便宜?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 便宜 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
便宜 (biàn yí) refers to something that is inexpensive or cheap in price. It is commonly used in shopping contexts to describe products that are affordable, and can also imply convenience in some situations.
When to use 便宜
Learners often confuse 便宜 with 贵 (guì), which means expensive. Note that 便宜 can be both formal and informal; in shopping contexts, it’s often used casually. Be careful with tone: saying 'biàn yí' with the wrong tones can lead to misunderstandings.
便宜 or something close to it
便宜 (biàn yí) vs 便宜的 (pián yí de) — use 便宜 for an adjective describing price; use 便宜的 when modifying a noun.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 便宜 in contexts that imply poor quality, like saying '便宜的质量' (cheap quality) when they mean to simply describe a low price. Instead, clarify by saying '价格便宜' (price is cheap) to focus on cost.
Write 便宜
便
宜
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Grammar Patterns of 便宜
便宜 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
