giá rẻ như rác

/ɣi˧˦ ɹɛ˧˨˧ ɲɨ˧ˀ˨˩ ʐaːk˧˥/
phrase★Intermediate— extremely cheap◆idiom
◆ What It Really Means
To be so inexpensive that it seems worthless or of poor quality.
Literal Meaning
The price is as cheap as trash.
Literal Breakdown
giá rẻcheap+nhưlike+ráctrash
◇ Mental Image
The mental image is of something so cheap that it is comparable to trash, which is typically considered worthless.
◈ When to Use
A person might use this phrase when describing a very affordable item, such as clothing or electronics, that they bought but are unsure about the quality.
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom reflects a cultural attitude toward affordability and quality in Vietnamese society, where extremely low prices can sometimes be a red flag for poor quality.
informal

To be so inexpensive that it seems worthless or of poor quality.

Tôi mua áo này giá rẻ như rác, nhưng nó vẫn tốt.

I bought this shirt for an extremely low price, but it's still good.

Cái điện thoại này giá rẻ như rác, nhưng nó không bền.

This phone is dirt cheap, but it's not durable.

💡

This idiom is often used to describe items that are very affordable but may be of questionable quality.

Related Phrases

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use this phrase to describe items that are very affordable but may not be of high quality.

⚡Gold Rule

Avoid Misinterpretation

Do not use this phrase to describe items that are genuinely valuable or high-quality, as it implies low value.

📖Word Origin

The phrase combines 'giá rẻ' (cheap) with 'như rác' (like trash), emphasizing the extreme affordability of an item, often at the expense of quality.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in informal contexts to describe very low prices, often with a hint of skepticism about the quality of the item.

Word Breakdown

giá rẻ
cheap
root
+
như rác
like trash
root
Từ Điển Việt Anh