代价

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代价 [2025/08/11 09:57] – created xiaoer代价 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== dàijià: 代价 - Cost, Price, Consequence ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** 代价, daijia, what does daijia mean, cost in Chinese, price in Chinese, consequence in Chinese, pay the price Chinese, cost of success, 代价 meaning, 代价 vs 价格, Chinese vocabulary +
-  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning of **代价 (dàijià)**, a fundamental Chinese word that goes beyond a simple price tag. **代价 (dàijià)** refers to the abstract "cost," "price," or "consequence" of an action, decision, or achievement. It's the sacrifice you make—in time, health, relationships, or effort—to get something you want. Understanding **代价** is key to grasping how Chinese speakers discuss trade-offs, ambition, and the consequences of one's choices. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** dàijià +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** The cost, price, or negative consequence paid to achieve a goal or as a result of an action. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** Forget the price tag you see in a store. **代价 (dàijià)** is the metaphorical price you pay in life. It's what you give up to get something else. Think of the English phrases "the price of fame" or "the cost of war." **代价** captures this idea perfectly and is used to talk about the sacrifices, struggles, and trade-offs that are part of any major decision or accomplishment. It carries a heavy, serious feeling. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **代 (dài):** This character's original meaning is "to substitute" or "to replace." Think of it as one thing taking the place of another. +
-  * **价 (jià):** This character means "price" or "value." It's the character you see in words related to money and commerce. +
-When combined, **代价 (dàijià)** literally translates to "substitute price" or "replacement value." This beautifully illustrates the core concept: it is the value you must **give up** or **substitute** in order to obtain your desired outcome. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-The concept of **代价** is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, which often emphasizes pragmatism, hard work, and the idea that "there's no such thing as a free lunch" (天下没有免费的午餐 - tiānxià méiyǒu miǎnfèi de wǔcān). The word reflects a sober understanding that every goal, from academic success to national development, requires a significant trade-off. +
-  * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** +
-While similar to the English idea of "paying the price," **代价** is used more frequently and broadly in everyday Chinese conversation. In English, saying someone "paid the price" can sound quite dramatic or moralistic. In Chinese, discussing the **代价** of a choice (e.g., "The **代价** of working in a big city is being far from my parents") is a common and neutral way to analyze a situation's pros and cons. +
-It's a less emotional and more analytical concept than "sacrifice" can sometimes be in English. It's the practical calculation of what is lost versus what is gained, a fundamental part of decision-making in both personal and professional spheres. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-**代价** is a versatile word used in various contexts, almost always with a serious and slightly negative connotation. +
-  *   **Personal Ambition:** People often talk about the **代价** of their career or educational pursuits. For example, the **代价** of getting a PhD might be sacrificing your social life for several years. +
-  *   **Business and Economics:** In business, it refers to the costs of a strategy, a failed project, or entering a new market. This is more abstract than just the financial cost. +
-  *   **Social Commentary:** Media and intellectuals will discuss the **代价** of societal changes. For example, "环境的**代价**" (huánjìng de dàijià) is the "environmental cost" of rapid industrialization. +
-  *   **Relationships:** It can be used to describe the consequences of a fight or a breakup. The **代价** of a lie might be losing someone's trust forever. +
-The word implies that the cost is significant and often unavoidable. When someone says they "付出了代价" (fùchūle dàijià), they are acknowledging a serious loss or hardship they endured. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-  * 成功的**代价**是巨大的。 +
-  * Pinyin: Chénggōng de **dàijià** shì jùdà de. +
-  * English: The price of success is huge. +
-  * Analysis: This is a classic, common phrase. It treats "success" as something that must be "paid for" with effort, time, or other sacrifices. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-  * 我们不能以牺牲环境为**代价**来发展经济。 +
-  * Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng yǐ xīshēng huánjìng wéi **dàijià** lái fāzhǎn jīngjì. +
-  * English: We cannot develop the economy at the cost of sacrificing the environment. +
-  * Analysis: Here, **代价** is used in the structure "以 A 为代价" (yǐ A wéi dàijià), meaning "to take A as the price." This is a very common pattern for discussing trade-offs. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-  * 为了实现他的梦想，他付出了沉重的**代价**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Wèile shíxiàn tā de mèngxiǎng, tā fùchūle chénzhòng de **dàijià**. +
-  * English: In order to realize his dream, he paid a heavy price. +
-  * Analysis: The verb **付出 (fùchū)**, meaning "to pay out" or "expend," is frequently paired with **代价**. The adjective **沉重 (chénzhòng)**, meaning "heavy," is often used to emphasize the severity of the cost. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-  * 你必须为你的错误行为付出**代价**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū wèi nǐ de cuòwù xíngwéi fùchū **dàijià**. +
-  * English: You must pay the price for your mistaken actions. +
-  * Analysis: This shows **代价** being used as a direct consequence or punishment for a mistake. It has a strong feeling of accountability. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-  * 这么做的**代价**是什么？你考虑过吗？ +
-  * Pinyin: Zhème zuò de **dàijià** shì shénme? Nǐ kǎolǜguò ma? +
-  * English: What is the cost of doing this? Have you considered it? +
-  * Analysis: A practical question used to urge someone to think about the potential negative consequences of a plan before acting. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-  * 他以牺牲个人时间为**代价**，换来了事业的成功。 +
-  * Pinyin: Tā yǐ xīshēng gèrén shíjiān wéi **dàijià**, huàn láile shìyè de chénggōng. +
-  * English: At the cost of his personal time, he gained career success. +
-  * Analysis: This sentence clearly lays out the trade-off. "Personal time" was the **代价** paid to "buy" career success. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-  * 战争的**代价**是无法估量的。 +
-  * Pinyin: Zhànzhēng de **dàijià** shì wúfǎ gūliàng de. +
-  * English: The cost of war is immeasurable. +
-  * Analysis: This highlights the abstract and immense nature of **代价**. It's not a number that can be calculated, but a vast collection of losses (lives, homes, stability). +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-  * 一时的疏忽，让他付出了生命的**代价**。 +
-  * Pinyin: Yīshí de shūhū, ràng tā fùchūle shēngmìng de **dàijià**. +
-  * English: A moment of negligence cost him his life. +
-  * Analysis: Shows the ultimate price. "生命的代价" (shēngmìng de dàijià) means "the price of one's life" and is used in the most serious situations. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-  * 为了保持身材，她付出的**代价**是不能享受美食。 +
-  * Pinyin: Wèile bǎochí shēncái, tā fùchū de **dàijià** shì bùnéng xiǎngshòu měishí. +
-  * English: The price she pays to maintain her figure is not being able to enjoy delicious food. +
-  * Analysis: This is a more lighthearted, everyday example, but it still frames the situation as a trade-off or a loss. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-  * 自由不是没有**代价**的。 +
-  * Pinyin: Zìyóu bùshì méiyǒu **dàijià** de. +
-  * English: Freedom is not without its costs. +
-  * Analysis: A philosophical use of the word, mirroring the English phrase "freedom isn't free." It implies that maintaining freedom requires effort, vigilance, or sacrifice. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing **代价 (dàijià)** with **价格 (jiàgé)**. +
-  *   **代价 (dàijià):** Abstract, metaphorical cost. The sacrifice, the consequence, the trade-off. Used for things like success, war, mistakes, and health. +
-  *   **价格 (jiàgé):** Literal, monetary price. The price tag on a product in a store. +
-**INCORRECT USAGE:** +
-  *   //(At a store, pointing to a shirt)// 这件衬衫的**代价**是多少？ (Zhè jiàn chènshān de **dàijià** shì duōshǎo?) +
-  *   **Why it's wrong:** This sounds bizarre, as if you're asking what tragedy you must endure to acquire the shirt. +
-  *   **CORRECT USAGE:** +
-  *   这件衬衫的**价格**是多少？ (Zhè jiàn chènshān de **jiàgé** shì duōshǎo?) OR  +
-  *   这件衬衫多少**钱**？ (Zhè jiàn chènshān duōshǎo **qián**?) +
-Think of it this way: You can pay a **价格 (jiàgé)** with money. You can only pay a **代价 (dàijià)** with effort, time, health, happiness, or even your life. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  *   [[价格]] (jiàgé) - The literal, monetary price of an item. The most important term to distinguish from **代价**. +
-  *   [[成本]] (chéngběn) - The "cost" in a business or economic sense (e.g., production cost, operating cost). It's more technical and financial than **代价**. +
-  *   [[牺牲]] (xīshēng) - (v./n.) To sacrifice; a sacrifice. This is often the *action* of paying the **代价**. You **牺牲** your time to achieve a goal. +
-  *   [[后果]] (hòuguǒ) - Consequence; aftermath. This term overlaps with **代价** but focuses more on the *result* of an action, while **代价** focuses on what was *paid*. **后果** is almost always negative. +
-  *   [[付出]] (fùchū) - (v.) To pay out; to expend (effort, time). This is the verb most commonly used with **代价** (e.g., **付出代价** - fùchū dàijià). +
-  *   [[价值]] (jiàzhí) - (n.) Value; worth. This is what you weigh against the **代价**. Is the **价值** of the goal worth the **代价** you must pay? +
-  *   [[划算]] (huásuàn) - (adj.) Cost-effective; a good deal. If something is **划算**, it means the value gained is much greater than the cost paid. It's the opposite feeling of paying a high **代价**.+