dàijià: 代价 - Cost, Price, Consequence

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

• 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.