Chinese word

宰

Pronunciation

Pinyinzǎi

Meaning

  • verbrip off

Example

那家店总想在游客身上宰钱。nà jiā diàn zǒng xiǎng zài yóu kè shēn shàng zǎi qián

That shop always tries to rip tourists off.

Illustration for 宰 (rip off)

More examples

那条街上有些小店以次充好，趁机宰顾客。nà tiáo jiē shàng yǒu xiē xiǎo diàn yǐ cì chōng hǎo chèn jī zǎi gù kè

Some small shops on that street pass off inferior goods as good ones and take the opportunity to rip off customers.

Core concept

A price is pushed upward because the customer cannot easily check it, turning an ordinary purchase into an unfair money grab.

Common phrases

  • 宰钱zǎi qián

    swindle money

  • 被宰了bèi zǎi le

    get ripped off

Similar words

坑kēng: Swindle someone in a way that causes financial loss or loss of property.
骗piàn: Cheat someone through lies or deceit to obtain their money or belongings.
敲诈qiāo zhà: Get money or property from someone by threatening or pressuring them.
敲竹杠qiāo zhú gàng: Demand an unfair extra payment by exploiting a person's weak position or ignorance.

Definition in Chinese

趁对方不懂行情或处于弱势时多收钱财，含有以不公平或过高价格牟利的意思，多用于口语指商家对顾客的剥削。chèn duì fāng bù dǒng háng qíng huò chǔ yú ruò shì shí duō shōu qián cái hán yǒu yǐ bù gōng píng huò guò gāo jià gé móu lì de yì si duō yòng yú kóu yǔ zhǐ shāng jiā duì gù kè de bō xuē

Word origin

宰 (zǎi, "to manage") developed from the idea of controlling affairs into a colloquial description of a seller controlling the terms of a transaction for excessive profit.

Usage tips

  • The word suggests exploitation rather than a simple billing mistake, so it is stronger than a neutral statement that a charge is merely high.

Other meanings

  • overchargeverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word