安い

• Reading: やすい
• Romaji: yasui
• Kanji breakdown: 安 (yasu/an) — cheap, peaceful, easy
• Pronunciation: /ja.sɯ.i/

Meaning

Cheap; inexpensive; affordable. Used to describe low prices or good deals.

An i-adjective meaning cheap or inexpensive. Conjugates regularly: 安くない (not cheap), 安かった (was cheap), 安くて (cheap and...). The kanji 安 also appears in 安心 (anshin, peace of mind) and 安全 (anzen, safety), where it carries the meaning of 'peaceful' rather than 'cheap.' The opposite is 高い (expensive).

Examples

1. このスーパーは野菜が安いです。 The vegetables at this supermarket are cheap.
2. 安くておいしいレストランを知っていますか。 Do you know any cheap and tasty restaurants?
3. 今日はくだものが安かったので買いました。 Fruit was on sale today, so I bought some.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, comparing prices, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 安 shows a woman (女) under a roof (宀), suggesting calm and peace at home. The meaning of 'cheap/inexpensive' developed later as an extension of 'easy, settled.'

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal