diu3 hei2 lai4 maai6吊起來賣吊起来卖
Jyutpingdiu3 hei2 lai4 maai6
Yalediu héi làih maaih
Definition
To artificially inflate the price or withhold goods to drive up demand once a buyer shows interest.
colloquialshoppingmoney
How it's used
Originally referring to merchants who would hang goods high up to create an illusion of scarcity or high value, this phrase now describes any situation where a seller senses high demand and artificially inflates the price. It carries a negative connotation of being manipulative or greedy. It is most commonly used in retail or when negotiating the price of second-hand goods.
Examples
Seeing that you really want it, he immediately started playing hard to get with the price.
This shop always hikes up the price when they see interest, it is so annoying.
Related words
Common phrases
always playing hard to get with the price
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply expensive or high-end. The phrase specifically implies a strategic, often dishonest, increase in price triggered by the buyer's visible enthusiasm.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
