Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== jiàliánwùměi: 价廉物美 - Good Quality for a Low Price, Great Value ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **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. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **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. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **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). ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== `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. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== 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 Sentences ===== * **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. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **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." ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **[[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.