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奢侈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
奢侈shēchǐluxuriousHSK 7, a, 19 strokes, rank #9627, Very Hard
奢侈shēchǐextravagantHSK 7, a, 19 strokes, rank #9627, Very Hard
shēchǐ(she1chi3)she chi T1
  1. 1luxurious
  2. 2extravagant
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March 24, 2026

奢侈shēchǐ(she1chi3)

奢侈 refers to a lifestyle characterized by excessive luxury or extravagance. It is often used to describe things that are lavish or beyond what is necessary, such as expensive items or indulgent experiences, and can carry a negative connotation of wastefulness.

Strokes19Frequency#9627DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In contemporary Chinese culture, discussions around 奢侈 often relate to the growing consumer culture and the social implications of wealth, especially among the younger generation who may aspire to a more luxurious lifestyle.

Memory tip

Imagine a rich king sitting on a throne made of gold, surrounded by diamonds and expensive silk. The character 奢 (she) looks like a person holding an extravagant item, and 侈 (chi) resembles a large, overflowing treasure chest, helping you remember its meaning of luxury and extravagance.

Meanings of 奢侈

shēchǐ(she1chi3)
1luxurious
2extravagant
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 奢侈

奢侈Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#9627Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 奢侈

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Podcast: 奢侈

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AI study notes for 奢侈

Quick Contrast

奢华 (shēhuá) — use 奢侈 for a negative connotation of wastefulness, while 奢华 emphasizes grandeur without the same negative implication.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 奢侈 with similar words like 富裕 (wealthy) which focuses more on possession rather than extravagance. This term is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about consumerism or luxury goods.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 奢侈 is useful for discussing topics related to economics, lifestyle, and social issues. Students should focus on understanding its nuances and using it in context with other HSK 6 vocabulary related to luxury and economy.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 奢侈 in informal contexts, like saying '我喜欢奢侈的食物' (I like luxurious food), which can sound odd; it's better to say '我喜欢美味的食物' (I like delicious food). Additionally, some might confuse it with expensive (昂贵), which lacks the connotation of extravagance.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 奢侈

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Component characters

奢shēextravagant
11 strokes大
View full entry
侈chǐextravagant
8 strokes亻
View full entry

How to say luxurious in Chinese

“luxurious” in Chinese is奢侈shēchǐ

奢侈 refers to a lifestyle characterized by excessive luxury or extravagance. It is often used to describe things that are lavish or beyond what is necessary, such as expensive items or indulgent experiences, and can carry a negative connotation of wastefulness.

When to use 奢侈

Be careful not to confuse 奢侈 with similar words like 富裕 (wealthy) which focuses more on possession rather than extravagance. This term is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially in discussions about consumerism or luxury goods.

奢侈 or something close to it

奢华 (shēhuá) — use 奢侈 for a negative connotation of wastefulness, while 奢华 emphasizes grandeur without the same negative implication.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 奢侈 in informal contexts, like saying '我喜欢奢侈的食物' (I like luxurious food), which can sound odd; it's better to say '我喜欢美味的食物' (I like delicious food). Additionally, some might confuse it with expensive (昂贵), which lacks the connotation of extravagance.

Write 奢侈

奢
侈

Practice writing 奢侈 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 奢侈

奢侈 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 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

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Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这种____的滑石润肤露能使缺水的皮肤恢复柔软与弹性。

This luxurious talcum lotion restores softness and suppleness to dehydrated skin.

Example sentences for 奢侈 (10)

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1
这种奢侈的滑石润肤露能使缺水的皮肤恢复柔软与弹性。

zhè zhǒng shēchǐ de huá dàn rùn fū lòu néng shǐ quē shuǐ de pífū huīfù róuruǎn yǔ tánxìng。

This luxurious talcum lotion restores softness and suppleness to dehydrated skin.
2
你能稍微奢侈一点吗?你的预算是否有上限?

nǐ néng shāowēi shēchǐ yīdiǎn ma? nǐ de yùsuàn shìfǒu yǒu shàngxiàn?

Can you afford to splash out a little? Is your budget unlimited?
3
将你在奢侈品上的花费降至可控范围。

jiāng nǐ zài shēchǐ pǐn shàng de huāfèi jiàng zhì kě kòng fànwéi。

Keep your spending on luxuries down to manageable proportions.
4
你不该把钱浪费在那种小奢侈品上。

nǐ bù gāi bǎ qián làngfèi zài nà zhǒng xiǎo shēchǐ pǐn shàng。

You cannot chuck money away on little luxuries like that.
5
谁会为她奢侈的假日买单?

shéi huì wèi tā shēchǐ de jiàrì mǎidān?

Who is footing the bill for her extravagant holiday?
6
该地区的消费者经济窘迫,在奢侈品上的开销比以前少了。

gāi dìqū de xiāofèizhě jīngjì jiǒngpò, zài shēchǐ pǐn shàng de kāixiāo bǐ yǐqián shǎo le。

The region's hard-pressed consumers are spending less on luxuries.
7
靠自己的工资他买不起奢侈的食品。

kào zìjǐ de gōngzī tā mǎibuqǐ shēchǐ de shípǐn。

He could not afford luxury food on his pay.
8
她一味地埋头为这趟旅行作种种奢侈的准备.

tā yíwèi dì mái tóu wèi zhè tàng lǚxíng zuō zhǒngzhǒng shēchǐ de zhǔnbèi.

She threw herself into extravagant preparations for the journey.
9
在经济衰退期间,培训预算被认为是一项可以节省下来的奢侈费用。

zài jīngjì shuāituì qījiān, péixùn yùsuàn bèi rènwéi shì yī xiàng kěyǐ jiéshěng xiàlái de shēchǐ fèiyong。

During the recession, training budgets were seen as an expendable luxury.
10
奢侈品税其实对削减预算赤字并不会有多少帮助。

shēchǐ pǐn shuì qíshí duì xuējiǎn yùsuàn chìzì bìng bù huì yǒu duōshao bāngzhù。

The luxury tax won't really do much to pare down the budget deficit.

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Cultural Notes for 奢侈

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While both Chinese and Western cultures recognize luxury, the emphasis on societal status and the perception of extravagance can differ, with Chinese culture often viewing it as a reflection of one's success.

Frequently asked questions about 奢侈

The opposite of 奢侈 is 朴素 (pǔsù), which means simple or plain.

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