Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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.
Frequency#2711DifficultyMedium
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.
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 便宜 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 便宜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
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.
"For heaven's sake!" Dot expostulated. "They're cheap and they're useful."
Cultural Notes for 便宜
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about 便宜
Yes, 便宜 can describe both services and products. For example, you might say '这家餐厅的饭便宜' (This restaurant's food is cheap).
Generally, yes, but sometimes it can imply low quality. Context is important.
You can use it like this: '这个价格很便宜' (This price is very cheap).
