价格刺客

• Pinyin: jià gé cì kè
• Hanzi breakdown: 价格 (price) + 刺客 (assassin) -> a price that ambushes you.

Meaning

An item whose price unexpectedly shocks you at checkout. It usually looks ordinary until the price appears.

价格刺客 became popular for snacks, fruit, drinks, and everyday goods with surprisingly high prices. It criticizes hidden or poorly signposted pricing.

Examples

1. 这盒雪糕没标价，结账才发现是价格刺客。 This box of ice cream had no price tag, and I only found out at the checkout that it was a price shocker.
2. 景区矿泉水二十块，妥妥价格刺客。 Mineral water at a tourist spot for twenty yuan is a classic price shocker.
3. 防价格刺客，拿东西前先问价。 To avoid price shockers, ask the price before you pick anything up.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, food, travel, reviews

Tone: complaining, humorous

Do Say

• 这盒雪糕没标价，结账才发现是价格刺客。
• 景区矿泉水二十块，妥妥价格刺客。

Don't Say

• Do not use it for luxury items whose high price is obvious.

Common Mistakes

• Calling any expensive item 价格刺客; surprise is the core meaning.

Origin & History

Viral phrase from consumer complaints where ordinary-looking items ambush shoppers like an assassin.

Cultural Context

Era: 2020s

Generation: Mainstream consumers and netizens

Social background: Broad consumer culture

Regional notes: Popular across Mainland social media after viral ice-cream price complaints.