How do you say "cheap" in Japanese?

安い

yasui

Adjective Kanji

In Japanese, "cheap" is 安い (yasui).

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Pronunciation

安い is written using kanji. Romanised as yasui, it sounds roughly like "yah-soo-ee" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Yasui (安い) is an i-adjective that must not be confused with yasashii (easy or gentle), even though they share similar sounds. The kanji 安 appears in many words related to peace or security.

Example sentence

このお店の野菜はとても安いです。

Kono omise no yasai wa totemo yasui desu.

The vegetables at this shop are very cheap.

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How to remember 安い

Yasui rhymes with 'yes, I will,' as in eagerly buying something cheap. The sound matches the sense of good deal and affordability.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese adjectives.

Questions about 安い

How do you pronounce 安い?

安い is romanised as yasui. Say it roughly like "yah-soo-ee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 安い formal or casual?

安い is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 安い written in Japanese?

安い is written using kanji. Yasui (安い) is an i-adjective that must not be confused with yasashii (easy or gentle), even though they share similar sounds.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Cheap" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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