jiàliánwùměi: 价廉物美 - Good Quality for a Low Price, Great Value

• Keywords: 价廉物美, jialianwumei, cheap and good, good value for money, bargain in Chinese, high quality low price, Chinese idiom for bargain, 物美价廉, wumeijialian, HSK 5, Chinese chengyu.
• Summary: 价廉物美 (jiàliánwùměi) is a popular Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to describe products, services, or experiences that are both inexpensive and of high quality. It perfectly captures the concept of getting a “great value for your money” or finding a “real bargain.” This term is a huge compliment for any product and a common goal for savvy shoppers in China, reflecting a cultural appreciation for pragmatism and smart consumption.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jià lián wù měi
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu); Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The price is low and the product's quality is excellent.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine finding a fantastic meal at a small restaurant for a fraction of what you'd expect to pay, or buying a well-made coat online for a surprisingly low price. That feeling is `价廉物美`. It's the sweet spot where low cost and high quality meet. It’s not just “cheap,” which might imply something is poorly made; it's the ideal combination of affordability and excellence, making it the ultimate praise for a smart purchase.

• 价 (jià): Price, cost, value. This character sets the context of a commercial transaction.
• 廉 (lián): Inexpensive, low-priced. It can also mean “honest” or “uncorrupted,” but here it strictly refers to a low price.
• 物 (wù): Thing, object, item, product. This refers to the goods or service being purchased.
• 美 (měi): Beautiful, good, excellent. In this context, it means “of high quality” or “excellent.”

These four characters combine literally and elegantly to mean “Price low, item good.” The structure is parallel and memorable, a common feature of Chinese four-character idioms (chengyu).

`价廉物美` is more than just a phrase; it reflects a deep-seated cultural value of pragmatism and thrift in Chinese society. Being a savvy consumer and finding a good deal is often a source of pride and a demonstration of practical intelligence. In Western, particularly American, culture, the phrase “you get what you pay for” is a dominant consumer belief. The word “cheap” often carries a strong negative connotation, implying that a low price automatically means low quality. While English has phrases like “great value” or “a bargain,” `价廉物美` holds a more established and positive position in the language. It exists as a formal idiom to express the ideal consumer outcome: defying the “you get what you pay for” rule. It's the gold standard for everyday products and services, and businesses that can achieve it earn tremendous respect and customer loyalty.

This idiom is extremely common and versatile in modern China.

• In Daily Conversation: People use it to recommend restaurants, share shopping finds with friends, or compliment a good purchase. “You should try that noodle shop, it's really `价廉物美`!”
• In E-commerce and Reviews: It's a staple in online reviews on platforms like Taobao, JD.com, or Dianping (China's Yelp). A five-star review will frequently contain this phrase to signal to others that the product is a safe and smart buy.
• In Advertising and Marketing: Businesses frequently use `价廉物美` as a key selling point in their slogans and advertisements to attract price-conscious and quality-conscious consumers. It's a powerful promise to customers.

The connotation is universally positive, and it can be used in both informal chats and more formal written contexts.

• Example 1:
  • 这里的夜市小吃种类多，而且价廉物美。
  • Pinyin: Zhèlǐ de yèshì xiǎochī zhǒnglèi duō, érqiě jiàliánwùměi.
  • English: The snacks at the night market here have a lot of variety, and they're a great value (tasty and cheap).
  • Analysis: A very common way to describe street food or small, local restaurants that offer delicious food for a low price.
• Example 2:
  • 我在网上买的这件T恤衫，真是价廉物美，质量特别好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zài wǎngshàng mǎi de zhè jiàn T-xùshān, zhēnshì jiàliánwùměi, zhìliàng tèbié hǎo.
  • English: This T-shirt I bought online is truly a bargain; the quality is exceptionally good.
  • Analysis: This highlights the pleasant surprise of finding high-quality goods on e-commerce platforms like Taobao.
• Example 3:
  • 这家新开的超市以价廉物美的商品吸引了很多顾客。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā xīn kāi de chāoshì yǐ jiàliánwùměi de shāngpǐn xīyǐnle hěnduō gùkè.
  • English: This new supermarket attracted many customers with its high-quality, low-priced goods.
  • Analysis: Shows how the term is used from a business perspective to describe a successful strategy.
• Example 4:
  • 如果你想找价廉物美的住宿，可以考虑青年旅社。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng zhǎo jiàliánwùměi de zhùsù, kěyǐ kǎolǜ qīngnián lǚshè.
  • English: If you're looking for accommodation that's great value for the money, you can consider a youth hostel.
  • Analysis: Used here to describe a type of service (accommodation) rather than a physical product.
• Example 5:
  • 我们的目标就是为消费者提供价廉物美的产品。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de mùbiāo jiùshì wèi xiāofèizhě tígōng jiàliánwùměi de chǎnpǐn.
  • English: Our goal is to provide consumers with products that are great value.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you might see in a company's mission statement or advertisement.
• Example 6:
  • 很多人喜欢去工厂直销店，因为那里的东西通常都价廉物美。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō rén xǐhuān qù gōngchǎng zhíxiāo diàn, yīnwèi nàlǐ de dōngxi tōngcháng dōu jiàliánwùměi.
  • English: Many people like to go to factory outlet stores because the items there are usually a great bargain.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides a specific context where one would expect to find `价廉物美` items.
• Example 7:
  • 这款国产手机功能齐全，真正做到了价廉物美。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn guóchǎn shǒujī gōngnéng qíquán, zhēnzhèng zuòdàole jiàliánwùměi.
  • English: This domestically produced phone is full-featured and has truly achieved being high-quality at a low price.
  • Analysis: Often used to praise domestic (国产) products that compete with more expensive foreign brands.
• Example 8:
  • 他很会过日子，总能买到价廉物美的东西。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn huì guòrìzi, zǒng néng mǎidào jiàliánwùměi de dōngxi.
  • English: He is very frugal and practical; he can always find things that are a great value.
  • Analysis: Connects the term to the personal characteristic of being a savvy and practical person (`会过日子`).
• Example 9:
  • 与其买昂贵的品牌，我更倾向于选择价廉物美的替代品。
  • Pinyin: Yǔqí mǎi ángguì de pǐnpái, wǒ gèng qīngxiàng yú xuǎnzé jiàliánwùměi de tìdàipǐn.
  • English: Rather than buying expensive brands, I prefer to choose high-quality, affordable alternatives.
  • Analysis: Shows the term used in a comparison, expressing a consumer philosophy.
• Example 10:
  • 这家店的东西物美价廉，所以生意一直很好。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi wùměijiàlián, suǒyǐ shēngyì yīzhí hěn hǎo.
  • English: The products at this shop are good and inexpensive, so business has always been very good.
  • Analysis: This example uses the inverted, and equally common, form `物美价廉 (wùměijiàlián)`. The meaning is identical.

• Not the same as “便宜 (piányi)”: This is the most common pitfall for learners. `便宜` simply means “cheap” or “inexpensive.” It makes no comment on the quality and can even imply it's poorly made. Saying “这个手机很便宜” (This phone is cheap) is a neutral statement about price, but could be negative. Saying “这个手机价廉物美” is a strong compliment, stating that the phone is both cheap *and* good.
• False Friend: “Cheap”: In English, calling a product “cheap” often implies it's shoddy, flimsy, or low-quality. `价廉物美` is the opposite; it's an explicit endorsement of the product's high quality relative to its low price. The best English equivalents are “great value,” “a bargain,” or “cost-effective.”
• Incorrect Usage: Do not use `价廉物美` to describe luxury or premium items.
  • Wrong: 这块劳力士手表真是价廉物美。 (This Rolex watch is really a great value.)
  • Why it's wrong: A Rolex is, by definition, not `价廉` (inexpensive). The term is reserved for items where the price point is objectively low for the quality offered, not for expensive items that you personally feel are “worth it.”

• 物美价廉 (wù měi jià lián) - A perfect synonym. The characters are simply inverted, but the meaning is exactly the same and it is used just as frequently.
• 实惠 (shíhuì) - Tangible, material benefit; a good deal. This focuses more on the practical benefit and substance you get for your money. A big portion of food for a low price is very `实惠`.
• 划算 (huásuàn) - Cost-effective; worthwhile. This implies a mental calculation has been made. “After considering the features and the price, I think this is a `划算` deal.”
• 性价比 (xìngjiàbǐ) - Cost-performance ratio. A very modern, technical term often used for electronics, cars, and other tech products. A product with a high ratio (`性价比高`) is essentially `价廉物美`.
• 物超所值 (wù chāo suǒ zhí) - “The item's value exceeds its price.” This is an even stronger compliment than `价廉物美`. It implies you got a deal so good it feels almost unbelievable.
• 一分钱一分货 (yī fēn qián yī fēn huò) - An idiom that means “you get what you pay for.” This is the philosophical antonym to `价廉物美`.
• 便宜 (piányi) - Cheap, inexpensive. This is a neutral-to-negative term that only describes price, not quality.
• 货真价实 (huò zhēn jià shí) - “Genuine goods at a fair price.” This term emphasizes authenticity and fair pricing, rather than just a low price. You would use it for a product that is not necessarily cheap, but is guaranteed to be authentic and priced reasonably.