划算

• Pinyin: huá suàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 划 = 戈 + 刂 (calculate/plan); 算 = 竹 + 目 + 廾 (reckon)

Meaning

Cost-effective; worthwhile; to be a good deal. As a verb, to calculate or consider.

Evaluates whether something is worth the cost, effort, or investment. Used for financial decisions, time management, and general assessments of value versus expenditure.

Examples

1. 这个价格买这么多东西很划算。 For this price, getting this much stuff is a great deal.
2. 你仔细划算一下成本和收益。 Carefully calculate the costs and the returns.
3. 花这么多时间排队不太划算。 Spending this much time standing in line isn’t really worth it.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, decisions, economics

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 批量购买更划算。(Buying in bulk is more cost-effective.)
• 从长远来看，投资教育是最划算的。(In the long run, investing in education is the most worthwhile.)

Don't Say

• 这个人很划算 — 划算 describes deals or decisions, not people's character

Origin & History

划 (calculate) + 算 (reckon)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal