yī fēn qián yī fēn huò: 一分钱一分货 - You Get What You Pay For

• Keywords: yī fēn qián yī fēn huò, yifenqian yifenhuo, 一分钱一分货, Chinese proverb quality price, you get what you pay for in Chinese, Chinese idiom for value, Chinese shopping phrase, buying quality in China.
• Summary: “Yī fēn qián yī fēn huò” (一分钱一分货) is a fundamental Chinese proverb that literally means “one part money, one part goods.” It perfectly encapsulates the concept of “you get what you pay for,” teaching that the quality of a product is directly proportional to its price. This entry explores its cultural significance, practical use in modern shopping and daily conversation, and how it reflects a pragmatic Chinese worldview.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yī fēn qián yī fēn huò
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom) / Proverb
• HSK Level: N/A (Extremely common in daily life, but not on a specific HSK list)
• Concise Definition: The price of an item reflects its quality; you get what you pay for.
• In a Nutshell: This is one of the most practical and widely used proverbs in the Chinese language. It serves as a constant reminder that value and price are linked. It can be used as a piece of advice when someone is considering a cheap item, a justification for an expensive purchase, or a sigh of resignation when a bargain item breaks. It's the voice of Chinese pragmatism in the marketplace.

• 一 (yī): The number “one.”
• 分 (fēn): A “part” or a “unit.” In the context of money, it's a “cent” (one-hundredth of a yuan).
• 钱 (qián): “Money.”
• 货 (huò): “Goods,” “merchandise,” or “product.”

The structure is a perfect parallel: “one part money” corresponds to “one part goods.” This creates a clear, almost mathematical relationship in the listener's mind: the amount of money you put in directly equals the amount of quality you get out.

This proverb is a cornerstone of Chinese consumer philosophy. It reflects a deep-seated cultural pragmatism and a healthy skepticism towards deals that seem “too good to be true.” While Western culture has the equivalent saying “you get what you pay for,” 一分钱一分货 feels more direct and transactional. The Western phrase can sometimes be used to justify luxury, while the Chinese phrase is more often a practical warning against cheapness. It contrasts sharply with the aspirational goal of 物美价廉 (wù měi jià lián), which means “high quality at a low price.” While everyone hopes for a good bargain (物美价廉), the default assumption and the worldly-wise advice is always 一分钱一分货. This saying embodies a kind of folk wisdom that has been passed down through generations of market trading, teaching people to be savvy and realistic consumers. It's less about a philosophy of spending and more about a fundamental law of commerce.

一分钱一分货 is used constantly in everyday life. Its usage is almost always informal and conversational.

• In Shopping: It's the most common context. You might say it to yourself while comparing two items, or a friend might say it to you as advice. A shopkeeper might even use it to justify why their product is more expensive than a competitor's.
• As a Complaint: When a cheaply bought item breaks or performs poorly, a person might sigh and say, “唉, 真的是一分钱一分货” (Āi, zhēn de shì yī fēn qián yī fēn huò) - “Sigh, it's really a case of you get what you pay for.”
• As a Justification: When you buy something expensive, like a high-end phone or a durable coat, you can justify the cost to others (or yourself) by saying, “一分钱一分货嘛, 这个能用好多年” (…ma, zhège néng yòng hǎo duō nián) - “You get what you pay for, and this one will last for many years.”
• Beyond Products: The logic can also be extended to services, like a cheap hotel room, a budget airline, or an inexpensive haircut.

The connotation is generally neutral and factual, simply stating a perceived truth about the world.

• Example 1:
  • 这把伞昨天刚买，今天就坏了。唉，真是一分钱一分货。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bǎ sǎn zuótiān gāng mǎi, jīntiān jiù huài le. Āi, zhēnshi yī fēn qián yī fēn huò.
  • English: I just bought this umbrella yesterday, and it broke today. Sigh, you really get what you pay for.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using the phrase to complain or express resignation after a cheap product fails.
• Example 2:
  • 这件大衣虽然贵，但是质量非常好。一分钱一分货，我觉得值。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn dàyī suīrán guì, dànshì zhìliàng fēicháng hǎo. Yī fēn qián yī fēn huò, wǒ juéde zhí.
  • English: Although this coat is expensive, the quality is excellent. You get what you pay for, so I think it's worth it.
  • Analysis: Here, the phrase is used to justify an expensive purchase by highlighting its superior quality.
• Example 3:
  • 你为什么不买那个便宜的手机？因为一分钱一分货，我怕用不了多久。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme bù mǎi nàge piányi de shǒujī? Yīnwèi yī fēn qián yī fēn huò, wǒ pà yòng bu liǎo duōjiǔ.
  • English: Why didn't you buy that cheaper phone? Because you get what you pay for, and I'm afraid it wouldn't last long.
  • Analysis: This shows the phrase used as a proactive reason or a piece of advice to avoid a potentially bad purchase.
• Example 4:
  • 妈妈总是告诉我们，买东西要记住一分钱一分货的道理。
  • Pinyin: Māma zǒngshì gàosù wǒmen, mǎi dōngxi yào jìzhù yī fēn qián yī fēn huò de dàolǐ.
  • English: My mom always told us that when you buy things, you have to remember the principle of “you get what you pay for.”
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how the phrase is treated as a “道理 (dàolǐ)” - a principle or piece of wisdom to live by.
• Example 5:
  • 客户问我们的价格为什么比别家高，你可以解释说“一分钱一分货”，然后强调我们材料的优势。
  • Pinyin: Kèhù wèn wǒmen de jiàgé wèishéme bǐ biéjiā gāo, nǐ kěyǐ jiěshì shuō “yī fēn qián yī fēn huò”, ránhòu qiángdiào wǒmen cáiliào de yōushì.
  • English: If the client asks why our price is higher than others, you can explain “you get what you pay for” and then emphasize the advantages of our materials.
  • Analysis: This shows a slightly more formal, business context where the proverb serves as a simple, powerful justification for a higher price point.
• Example 6:
  • 我知道网上有很多免费的课程，但一分钱一分货，付费的系统性和服务会更好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhīdào wǎngshàng yǒu hěnduō miǎnfèi de kèchéng, dàn yī fēn qián yī fēn huò, fùfèi de xìtǒngxìng hé fúwù huì gèng hǎo.
  • English: I know there are a lot of free courses online, but you get what you pay for; the paid ones have better structure and service.
  • Analysis: This extends the concept from physical “货 (huò)” (goods) to intangible services like education.
• Example 7:
  • 老板，这个工具怎么这么贵？老板回答：“小伙子，一分钱一分货，我这儿的都是正品。”
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, zhège gōngjù zěnme zhème guì? Lǎobǎn huídá: “Xiǎohuǒzi, yī fēn qián yī fēn huò, wǒ zhèr de dōu shì zhèngpǐn.”
  • English: “Boss, why is this tool so expensive?” The boss replied: “Young man, you get what you pay for. Everything I have here is genuine.”
  • Analysis: A very common interaction in a market or hardware store. The phrase is used by the seller to vouch for their product's quality and authenticity.
• Example 8:
  • 有时候一分钱一分货也不全对，我就买到过物美价廉的好东西。
  • Pinyin: Yǒu shíhòu yī fēn qián yī fēn huò yě bù quán duì, wǒ jiù mǎi dào guò wù měi jià lián de hǎo dōngxi.
  • English: Sometimes “you get what you pay for” isn't entirely true; I've definitely found some high-quality, low-price bargains.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows a speaker acknowledging the proverb but also pointing out that it's a general rule, not an absolute law. It introduces the contrasting concept of a “good deal.”
• Example 9:
  • 你不能指望花10块钱买到100块钱的质量，毕竟一分钱一分货。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bù néng zhǐwàng huā shí kuài qián mǎi dào yìbǎi kuài qián de zhìliàng, bìjìng yī fēn qián yī fēn huò.
  • English: You can't expect to spend 10 yuan and get 100 yuan worth of quality; after all, you get what you pay for.
  • Analysis: This example uses the phrase to manage expectations and explain a logical reality.
• Example 10:
  • 他贪便宜买了个二手车，结果天天修。这就是一分钱一分货的教训。
  • Pinyin: Tā tān piányi mǎi le ge èrshǒu chē, jiéguǒ tiāntiān xiū. Zhè jiùshì yī fēn qián yī fēn huò de jiàoxùn.
  • English: He was tempted by the low price and bought a used car, and now he has to repair it every day. This is a lesson in “you get what you pay for.”
  • Analysis: Here, the phrase is framed as a “教训 (jiàoxùn)” or a “lesson,” often one learned the hard way.

• Not an Absolute Rule: The most common misunderstanding is taking this proverb as an infallible law. It's a general principle, a rule of thumb. Chinese shoppers are famously skilled at finding 性价比 (xìngjiàbǐ)—good value for money—and hunting for 物美价廉 (wù měi jià lián) items. The proverb is the baseline expectation, not the end of the story.
• Not Just for Cheap Things: While often used to warn against cheapness, it's equally valid for justifying high prices. The core idea is the *link* between price and quality, not just a criticism of low-cost goods.
• False Friend Alert: Don't confuse it with the idea that “expensive is always better.” The phrase doesn't guarantee that a high-priced item is good, only that quality generally *requires* a certain price. A seller could still overcharge for a mediocre product. The saying 货真价实 (huò zhēn jià shí), meaning “genuine goods at a fair price,” is a better term for something that is priced appropriately for its (good) quality.

• 便宜没好货 (piányi méi hǎo huò): “Cheap things aren't good.” This is the negative side of the same coin, focusing specifically on the unreliability of bargains.
• 好货不便宜 (hǎo huò bù piányi): “Good things aren't cheap.” The positive inverse of the above, justifying a high price.
• 物美价廉 (wù měi jià lián): “High quality and low price.” The ideal but often elusive shopping outcome; the direct conceptual contrast to the principle of 一分钱一分货.
• 价廉物美 (jià lián wù měi): Same as above, just with the words flipped. Still means “good value.”
• 货真价实 (huò zhēn jià shí): “Genuine goods at a fair price.” This emphasizes authenticity and fair pricing, assuring the customer they are not being cheated.
• 性价比 (xìngjiàbǐ): “Cost-performance ratio.” A modern, technical-sounding term for “value for money.” A product with high 性价比 is a smart purchase.
• 货比三家 (huò bǐ sān jiā): “Compare goods from three shops.” This is the practical action one takes to navigate the world where 一分钱一分货 is the rule. It means to shop around before buying.
• 童叟无欺 (tóng sǒu wú qī): “Deceives neither the old (叟) nor the young (童).” An expression used to describe an honest merchant or business with fair prices for everyone.