giá cả trời

/ɣi˧˦ kaː˧˨ ʈəːj˧˨/
phraseIntermediate extremely high pricesidiom
What It Really Means
Extremely high or unreasonable prices that shock or frustrate the speaker.
Literal Meaning
Prices of the sky
Literal Breakdown
giá cảprices+trờisky
Mental Image
Prices so high they metaphorically reach the sky, emphasizing their extremity and unreasonableness.
When to Use
A customer in a store, shocked by the price of a product, exclaims, 'Giá cả trời! Tôi không thể mua được!' (Sky-high prices! I can't afford this!).
Cultural Note
This idiom reflects Vietnamese cultural sensitivity to economic hardship and the frustration caused by sudden or extreme price increases, often due to inflation or market speculation.
💼Business
informal

An idiomatic expression describing prices that are extremely high or unreasonable, often used to criticize or express shock at the cost of goods or services.

Sau đại dịch, giá cả trời của hàng hóa khiến kinh tế khó khăn hơn.

After the pandemic, the sky-high prices of goods made the economy even more difficult.

Tôi không thể mua xe mới vì giá cả trời.

I can't buy a new car because the prices are through the roof.

💡

This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversation to express frustration or surprise at high costs.

Related Phrases

giá như trờiidiom
prices as high as the sky
giá đắt như trờiidiom
prices as expensive as the sky

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use this phrase when discussing prices that seem unreasonably high, often in informal or conversational settings.

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

While expressive, overusing this phrase can dilute its impact. Reserve it for genuinely extreme price situations.

📖Word Origin

The phrase combines 'giá cả' (prices) with 'trời' (sky), creating a vivid metaphor of prices reaching the heavens, emphasizing their extremity.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in informal contexts to emphasize the shock or frustration at high prices, particularly in discussions about inflation, luxury goods, or market conditions.

Word Breakdown

giá cả
prices
root
+
trời
sky
root
Từ Điển Việt Anh