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rẻ
/rɛ̰˧˩˧/
cheap
Cái áo này rẻ quá!
This shirt is so cheap!
everyday
Low in price; inexpensive
Siêu thị bán đồ ăn rẻ hơn chợ.
The supermarket sells food cheaper than the market.
Anh ấy mua được chiếc điện thoại rẻ nhất.
He bought the cheapest phone.
Often used in bargaining or comparing prices. Can imply low quality if context suggests (e.g., 'rẻ tiền').
adverbial
Cheaply; at a low price
Anh ấy bán hàng rẻ lắm.
He sells things very cheaply.
Used as an adverb to describe how something is sold or obtained.
Pro Tip
Avoiding ambiguity with 'rẻ tiền'
When describing something as cheap, use 'rẻ' for price and 'rẻ tiền' if you want to imply poor quality. For example, 'Cái áo này rẻ' (This shirt is cheap) vs. 'Cái áo này rẻ tiền' (This shirt is cheaply made/low quality).
Word Origin
From Proto-Vietic *ʔreːʔ, related to Proto-Mon-Khmer *riːʔ (to be cheap). Cognate with Muong *rẻ*.
Usage Notes
Common in daily conversation, especially in markets or when discussing prices. 'Rẻ' alone usually refers to price, while 'rẻ tiền' may imply low quality. In Northern Vietnam, 'rẻ' is more commonly used for price, whereas in Southern Vietnam, 'bình dân' is also frequently used.
Từ Điển Việt Anh