物价

• Pinyin: wù jià
• Hanzi breakdown: 物 = 牛 (ox) + 勿, things/objects; 价 = 亻(person) + 介, price/value

Meaning

Commodity prices; cost of goods; price levels.

Refers to the general price level of goods and services in an economy. Commonly used in discussions about inflation, cost of living, and economic conditions. Appears in terms like 物价上涨 (rising prices), 物价稳定 (price stability), 物价指数 (price index). An important economic indicator.

Examples

1. 最近几年物价涨得太快，工资却没怎么涨。 Prices have risen too fast in recent years, but wages haven't kept up.
2. 政府采取了多项措施来稳定物价。 The government has taken multiple measures to stabilize commodity prices.
3. 大城市的物价普遍比小城市高不少。 Prices in big cities are generally much higher than in smaller cities.

Usage Guide

Context: economy, news, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 物价太高了。(Prices are too high.)
• 控制物价上涨。(Control rising prices.)

Don't Say

• 这个东西的物价 for a single item's price — 物价 refers to general price levels; use 价格 for individual items

Origin & History

Compound of 物 (things/goods) + 价 (price), meaning the price of goods.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal