How to say "cheap" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 安いやすいi-adjectiveThe everyday adjective for 'cheap' in the price sense: costing little money. It is the default choice when you simply want to say an item or service is inexpensive.
- 安価あんかna-adjective, nounCovers the same low-priced sense as 安い but sounds stiffer and more written; you meet it in product descriptions, price listings, and business contexts rather than casual chat.この車は彼が買えるほど安価だった。↗This car was cheap enough for him to buy.
- 安上がりやすあがりna-adjective, no-adjectiveCovers 'cheap' in the sense of economical: something that works out cheaper overall, such as a method or arrangement that keeps total costs down. Not so much about an item's sticker price.
- 低廉ていれんna-adjective, nounA stiff, written-style word for inexpensive; its natural home is formal documents, advertisements, and price notices rather than everyday speech. For plain conversation, 安い is what you reach for.
- 薄っぺらうすっぺらna-adjective, nounNot a way to say something costs little. Its 'cheap' sense is derogatory: flimsy or poorly made things, and figuratively shallow people, feelings, or arguments that lack substance.
Use 「安い」 for the basic sense of low-priced; 安価 and 低廉 are stiffer, more written alternatives; 「安上がり」 means economical, cheaper overall; 「薄っぺら」 is only the derogatory 'cheap' of flimsy or shallow things.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
