便宜

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 便宜 (pián yí) is composed of two characters: 便宜. The first character, 便 (biàn), means "convenient" or "easy". The second character, 宜 (yí), means "suitable" or "appropriate". Together, the two characters mean "convenient and appropriate", or "advantageous".The word 便宜 has been used in Chinese for centuries. It is found in many Chinese idioms and proverbs, such as 便宜行事 (pián yí xíng shì), which means "to act according to convenience", and 便宜莫贪 (pián yí mò tān), which means "don't be greedy for cheap things".The word 便宜 is also used in modern Chinese to mean "bargain" or "discount". For example, you might see a sign in a store that says 便宜出售 (pián yí chū shòu), which means "for sale at a bargain price".The word 便宜 is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is an important word to know for HSK learners, as it is used frequently in both spoken and written Chinese.