Chinese word

代价

Pronunciation

Pinyindài jià

Meaning

  • nounprice

Example

为了得到工作，他付出了很大代价。wèi le dé dào gōng zuò tā fù chū le hěn dà dài jià

To get the job, he paid a high price.

Illustration for 代价 (price)

More examples

许多技术进步常常以牺牲隐私为代价。xǔ duō jì shù jìn bù cháng cháng yǐ xī shēng yǐn sī wèi dài jià

Many technological advances often come at the cost of privacy.

Core concept

A payment or loss exchanged for reaching a desired result, whether it involves money, time, health, or missed chances.

Common phrases

  • 为成功付出代价wèi chéng gōng fù chū dài jià

    pay a price for success

  • 以牺牲为代价yǐ xī shēng wèi dài jià

    at the price of sacrifice

  • 代价不小dài jià bù xiǎo

    the cost is considerable

Similar words

牺牲xī shēng: A loss accepted when something important is given up for a purpose.
损失sǔn shī: A financial or property loss that causes damage.
费用fèi yòng: The amount of money required for a service or activity.
成本chéng běn: The total money spent in making or selling a product.

Definition in Chinese

获取某物或实现某目的时必须承担的费用或牺牲，可表示金钱支出，也可表示时间、健康、机会等方面的损失。huò qǔ mǒu wù huò shí xiàn mǒu mù dì shí bì xū chéng dān de fèi yòng huò xī shēng kě biǎo shì jīn qián zhī chū yě kě biǎo shì shí jiān jiàn kāng jī huì děng fāng miàn de sǔn shī

Word origin

代 (dài, "substitute") + 价 (jià, "value") forms the idea of a value given in place of something gained, which develops into the cost of achieving it.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often connect price with shopping, but Chinese also uses this noun for nonfinancial consequences, so it appears naturally in serious discussions of work, health, and decisions.

Other meanings

  • sacrificenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word