ángguì: 昂贵 - Expensive, Costly

• Keywords: ángguì, 昂贵, expensive in Chinese, costly in Chinese, how to say expensive in Mandarin, ang gui, 贵 vs 昂贵, Chinese adjective for expensive, HSK 4 vocabulary, high-priced
• Summary: Learn how to use “昂贵 (ángguì),” the Chinese word for “expensive” or “costly.” This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage. Discover when to use 昂贵 instead of the more common word 贵 (guì), especially for luxury items, significant investments, and in formal contexts. Perfect for beginner to intermediate learners aiming for more nuanced and authentic Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): ángguì
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Describing something as being very high in price; expensive, costly.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “昂贵 (ángguì)” as “expensive” on a grander scale. While “贵 (guì)” is your everyday word for anything pricey, “昂贵” is reserved for things that are significantly costly, like a sports car, a diamond ring, or tuition at a top university. It carries a more formal and literary tone, emphasizing a high price that often implies luxury, high value, or a major financial commitment.

• 昂 (áng): This character means “high,” “lofty,” or “to raise.” Picture someone holding their head up high (昂首挺胸 - áng shǒu tǐng xiōng). It suggests an elevated level.
• 贵 (guì): This is the basic character for “expensive,” “valuable,” or “noble.”
• Together, 昂贵 (ángguì) literally combines “high” and “expensive” to create a more powerful and formal term: “high-priced” or “costly.” It elevates the simple meaning of “expensive” to a new level of significance.

In Chinese culture, the concept of price is often linked to social status, respect, and “face” (面子 - miànzi). An 昂贵 item is more than just a costly object; it's a statement. Gifting an 昂贵 present is a powerful way to show deep respect, sincerity, or to establish an important relationship (关系 - guānxi). For instance, giving an 昂贵 watch to a business partner isn't just a gift; it's a symbol of the value you place on the partnership. This can be contrasted with Western consumer culture, where “expensive” might be more closely tied to brand heritage, craftsmanship, or personal taste. While these factors are also important in China, the sheer “昂贵” nature of an item—its high price tag—can itself be a primary source of its social value. It publicly signals success and financial capability in a very direct way.

• Formality: 昂贵 is more formal than 贵 (guì). You'll see it frequently in written Chinese, such as news articles, product descriptions for luxury goods, and formal reports. In casual conversation, people are more likely to say “太贵了! (tài guì le!)” - “It's too expensive!”
• Context: This term is typically used for items that represent a significant financial outlay.
  • Luxury Goods: Jewelry, designer bags, sports cars (这块手表非常昂贵。)
  • Major Assets: Real estate, art collections (市中心的房价很昂贵。)
  • Significant Costs: University tuition, advanced medical treatments, legal fees (这种手术的费用十分昂贵。)
• Connotation: The connotation is generally neutral but can lean negative, implying that something is prohibitively expensive or perhaps overpriced. It objectively describes a high price but can also carry the speaker's feeling that the cost is a significant barrier.

• Example 1:
  • 这块瑞士手表非常昂贵。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuài Ruìshì shǒubiǎo fēicháng ángguì.
  • English: This Swiss watch is extremely expensive.
  • Analysis: A classic use case for 昂贵. A luxury item like a Swiss watch fits the formal and high-value context perfectly.
• Example 2:
  • 在大城市里，教育成本可能非常昂贵。
  • Pinyin: Zài dà chéngshì lǐ, jiàoyù chéngběn kěnéng fēicháng ángguì.
  • English: In big cities, the cost of education can be very expensive.
  • Analysis: Here, 昂贵 is used to describe a significant, often burdensome, cost (成本 - chéngběn), which is a common and appropriate context.
• Example 3:
  • 这件艺术品之所以昂贵，是因为它的历史价值。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yìshùpǐn zhī suǒyǐ ángguì, shì yīnwèi tā de lìshǐ jiàzhí.
  • English: The reason this piece of art is so costly is because of its historical value.
  • Analysis: This sentence explains the justification for the high price, linking 昂贵 to value (价值 - jiàzhí).
• Example 4:
  • 他们为婚礼选择了一家昂贵的酒店。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen wèi hūnlǐ xuǎnzéle yī jiā ángguì de jiǔdiàn.
  • English: They chose an expensive hotel for the wedding.
  • Analysis: A wedding is a significant life event, so using 昂贵 to describe the venue is suitable as it implies luxury and importance.
• Example 5:
  • 很多癌症的治疗费用都极其昂贵。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō áizhèng de zhìliáo fèiyòng dōu jíqí ángguì.
  • English: The treatment costs for many cancers are extremely expensive.
  • Analysis: This shows 昂贵 used in a serious, formal context like medical care, where the high cost is a critical issue.
• Example 6:
  • 这家餐厅的菜品味道不错，但价格有点昂贵。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de càipǐn wèidào bùcuò, dàn jiàgé yǒudiǎn ángguì.
  • English: The dishes at this restaurant taste good, but the price is a bit high-end/costly.
  • Analysis: While “有点贵 (yǒudiǎn guì)” would be more common, using 昂贵 here frames the restaurant as a fine-dining establishment, making the price a feature of its high-end positioning.
• Example 7:
  • 维护一辆跑车需要昂贵的费用。
  • Pinyin: Wéihù yī liàng pǎochē xūyào ángguì de fèiyòng.
  • English: Maintaining a sports car requires expensive fees.
  • Analysis: This highlights that not just the purchase, but the ongoing costs (费用 - fèiyòng) can also be described as 昂贵.
• Example 8:
  • 他不惜昂贵的代价，也要把孩子送到国外读书。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùxī ángguì de dàijià, yě yào bǎ háizi sòng dào guówài dúshū.
  • English: He is willing to pay the high price (lit., not spare the expensive cost) to send his child to study abroad.
  • Analysis: Here, 昂贵 is used more abstractly in the phrase 昂贵的代价 (ángguì de dàijià), meaning a “high price” or “heavy cost,” which can be both financial and metaphorical.
• Example 9:
  • 这款手机使用了昂贵的材料，所以卖得那么贵。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn shǒujī shǐyòngle ángguì de cáiliào, suǒyǐ mài de nàme guì.
  • English: This phone uses expensive materials, which is why it sells for so much.
  • Analysis: This example shows 昂贵 used to modify a noun (材料 - cáiliào), clearly indicating high-cost components.
• Example 10:
  • 对于普通家庭来说，太空旅行仍然过于昂贵。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú pǔtōng jiātíng lái shuō, tàikōng lǚxíng réngrán guòyú ángguì.
  • English: For an average family, space travel is still far too expensive.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of a cost that is not just expensive, but prohibitively so, making 昂贵 the ideal word choice.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 昂贵 (ángguì) and 贵 (guì).

• 贵 (guì): Your go-to, all-purpose word for “expensive.” Use it in daily conversation for almost anything, from a cup of coffee to a new coat. It's versatile and common.
  • Correct: 这件衣服太贵了！ (Zhè jiàn yīfu tài guì le!) - This piece of clothing is too expensive!
• 昂贵 (ángguì): Use this for things of significant value or in more formal settings. It adds a layer of emphasis and seriousness. Using it for everyday, low-cost items sounds unnatural and exaggerated.

Common Mistake Example:

• Incorrect: 这瓶水很昂贵。(Zhè píng shuǐ hěn ángguì.) - This bottle of water is very costly.
• Why it's wrong: While a bottle of water at a 5-star hotel might be overpriced, it's not on the scale of being “costly” in the way 昂贵 implies. It sounds overly dramatic.
• Better: 这瓶水很贵。(Zhè píng shuǐ hěn guì.) - This bottle of water is very expensive.

Think of it this way: if you have to save up for it, or if its price is a major news point, it's likely 昂贵. If it just makes you think twice before buying, it's probably just 贵.

• 贵 (guì) - The common, everyday word for “expensive.” 昂贵 is a more formal and emphatic version.
• 便宜 (piányi) - The direct antonym of 贵, meaning “cheap” or “inexpensive.”
• 奢侈品 (shēchǐpǐn) - “Luxury goods.” These are the types of products often described as 昂贵.
• 价格 (jiàgé) - The noun for “price.” You often see it paired with 昂贵, as in “价格昂贵” (the price is high).
• 宝贵 (bǎoguì) - Means “valuable” or “precious,” but almost always refers to non-monetary things like time (宝贵的时间), experience (宝贵的经验), or advice. Don't confuse it with 昂贵.
• 珍贵 (zhēnguì) - Means “precious” or “rare.” It describes something valuable due to its rarity, like a gemstone, an antique, or a friendship. While a 珍贵 item is often 昂贵, its value is not solely defined by its price.
• 价廉物美 (jià lián wù měi) - A common idiom meaning “the price is low and the quality is good.” The conceptual opposite of an item that is 昂贵 (and possibly not worth the price).