hoi1 tin1 sok3 gaa3開天索價开天索价
Definition
To ask for an exorbitant or unreasonable price; to demand a ridiculously high price.
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe someone who makes an unreasonable demand or sets an absurdly high price, often with the intention of leaving room for negotiation. It carries a strong negative connotation of being greedy or unrealistic. It is frequently paired with the concept of bargaining, implying that the initial offer is a starting point for a back and forth process.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of a price tag, but it is specifically used to criticize the act of demanding an unfair amount. It is not used for standard high-end luxury pricing, but rather for situations where the price is clearly exploitative or disconnected from reality.
Grammar color guide
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.
