In China, bargaining and seeking a good price is a common and expected part of shopping in many markets. Getting something for a 便宜 price is a source of satisfaction. However, this is balanced by the important social concept of 占便宜 (zhàn piányi), which means “to take unfair advantage.” A Westerner might be proud of finding a loophole to get an expensive item for free, viewing it as being “savvy.” In Chinese culture, this could easily be seen as 占便宜—a selfish, opportunistic act that disregards fairness and the other person's potential loss. While getting a discount is good, being perceived as someone who unscrupulously seeks petty advantages (爱占小便宜 ài zhàn xiǎo piányi) can damage your reputation or `关系 (guānxi)`. The key difference lies in the perception of fairness: a bargained discount is a fair win, while an exploitative gain is a social foul.
As an Adjective (“cheap”): This is its most frequent use. You'll hear it constantly in stores, markets, and daily conversations about the cost of living. It's generally neutral, but can sometimes imply low quality, as in the saying `便宜没好货 (piányi méi hǎo huò)` - “cheap goods aren't good quality.” As a Verb (“to let someone off easy / to benefit someone”): This usage is highly contextual and carries a sense of fairness, or lack thereof. It often appears in situations where someone has made a mistake or is in a competition. Saying `这次算便宜你了 (zhè cì suàn piányi nǐ le)` means “Consider yourself lucky this time” or “I'm letting you off easy this time.” It implies the person deserved a worse outcome but was spared. The Phrase 占便宜 (zhàn piányi): This set phrase is extremely common and means “to take advantage of (someone or a situation).” It almost always has a negative connotation, describing someone who profits at the expense of others, whether in a small or large way.