昂贵

• Pinyin: áng guì
• Hanzi breakdown: 昂 = 日 (sun) + 卬 (to look up); 贵 = expensive

Meaning

Expensive; costly; high-priced.

Describes something with a high price, often implying it may be excessively so. More formal than 贵. Can also be used figuratively for high costs (time, effort, consequences).

Examples

1. 这个地段的房价非常昂贵，普通人买不起。 Housing prices in this area are extremely expensive — ordinary people can't afford them.
2. 昂贵的医疗费用让很多家庭不堪重负。 Expensive medical costs have overburdened many families.
3. 这次失误让公司付出了昂贵的代价。 This mistake cost the company dearly.

Usage Guide

Context: economic, descriptive

Tone: evaluative

Do Say

• 这些药物非常昂贵。(These medications are very expensive.)
• 战争的代价是昂贵的。(The cost of war is high.)

Don't Say

• 对便宜的东西说'太昂贵了' (Don't use 昂贵 for minor price differences — reserve it for truly high prices)

Origin & History

昂 (to raise/high) + 贵 (expensive). Together: highly expensive.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal