1. costing a lot of money
價格高的，昂貴的
This restaurant is too expensive for my budget.
這家餐廳對我的預算來說太貴了。
She bought an expensive handbag as a treat.
她買了一個昂貴的手提包犒賞自己。
Expensive Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
expensive
adjective
快速理解
What does "Expensive" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Expensive"?
形容物品或服務價格高昂，需要花費大量金錢。
- 1
高價的
EN: costing a lot of money
翻譯: 價格昂貴的
- 2
奢華的
EN: involving great expense; luxurious
翻譯: 涉及高額花費的；奢華的
- 3
代價高的
EN: causing a high cost or sacrifice
翻譯: 導致高成本或巨大犧牲的
小提醒：注意：'expensive' 主要形容物品或服務本身價格高，而非購買者覺得貴。若要表達主觀感受『我覺得太貴了』，更自然的說法是『It's too expensive for me.』或『I can't afford it.』，而非『I feel expensive.』。
發音（How to Pronounce "Expensive" in English）
How to pronounce "Expensive" in English?"Expensive" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Expensive" from YouTube Videos
Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address
Stanford
“This was the start in my life, And 17 years later I did go to college, But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition.”
(1 out of 93)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Expensive"?How does "Expensive" change by context?
2. causing great expense or sacrifice
代價高昂的，造成重大損失的
The war was an expensive victory in terms of human lives.
就人命損失而言，這場戰爭是一場代價高昂的勝利。
Delaying the decision proved to be an expensive mistake.
延遲決定被證明是一個代價高昂的錯誤。
3. lavish or extravagant in appearance or style
豪華的，奢華的
She has expensive tastes in wine and fashion.
她在葡萄酒和時尚方面品味奢華。
The hotel lobby had an expensive, modern decor.
酒店大廳有著奢華的現代裝潢。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Expensive"?How to make natural sentences with "Expensive"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| expensive + noun | 昂貴的... | She bought an expensive car. (她買了一輛昂貴的車。) |
| be + expensive | 是昂貴的 | This restaurant is very expensive. (這家餐廳非常昂貴。) |
| too expensive to + V | 太貴以致於不能... | The ticket was too expensive to buy. (那張票太貴了，買不起。) |
| more expensive than... | 比...更貴 | Gold is more expensive than silver. (黃金比白銀更貴。) |
| the most expensive + noun | 最貴的... | This is the most expensive watch in the store. (這是店裡最貴的手錶。) |
| expensive for + noun/pronoun | 對...來說很貴 | The course is expensive for students. (這門課程對學生來說很貴。) |
| expensive to + V | ...起來很貴 | It's expensive to maintain. (維護起來很貴。) |
| get/grow/become + expensive | 變得昂貴 | Housing has become expensive in this city. (這個城市的住房變得昂貴了。) |
用法說明
How is "Expensive" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Expensive"?
expensive doing vs expensive to do
- expensive doing 這種結構較為少見，通常用於描述某個「活動或過程本身」成本高昂。
- expensive to do 是最常見且自然的結構，用於說明「執行某個動作」需要花費大量金錢。
- 在形容詞後方接動詞時，通常使用 expensive to + 動詞原形 來表達「做某事很貴」。
對比範例： EN: Renovating an old house is expensive doing. 翻譯: 翻新老房子這件事，過程本身就很燒錢。
EN:This car is expensive to maintain.
翻譯:這輛車保養起來很貴。
總結建議
一般情況下，使用 expensive to + 動詞 來表達「做某事很花錢」是最安全且自然的用法。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Expensive" and similar words?How to choose "Expensive" vs alternatives?
expensive vs costly
「expensive」通常指物品價格高，但可能物有所值；「costly」則強調需要付出巨大代價，可能涉及金錢、時間或資源，且常帶有負面後果的意味。
expensive vs pricey
「expensive」是標準且通用的形容詞；「pricey」則較為口語、非正式，常帶有主觀認為定價過高的不滿語氣。
expensive vs luxurious
「expensive」僅描述價格高；「luxurious」則強調因高價而帶來的奢華、舒適與高品質體驗。
口語用法
How is "Expensive" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Expensive"?
引述
在轉述他人對價格的評價時，常用來緩和語氣，表示這是別人的看法。 EN: She said the hotel was a bit expensive, but the location was perfect. 翻譯: 她說那間飯店有點貴，但地點超好。
EN:Everyone keeps telling me that restaurant is too expensive for what you get.
翻譯:大家一直跟我說那間餐廳以它的品質來說太貴了。
語氣強調
與某些副詞或短語連用，以誇張或強調價格高得離譜。 EN: That bag is crazy expensive! I could never afford it. 翻譯: 那個包包貴得超誇張！我絕對買不起。
EN:The repairs ended up being ridiculously expensive.
翻譯:最後的維修費用貴得離譜。
停頓填充
在猶豫或思考如何委婉表達「價格高」時，作為一個緩衝詞。 EN: The course is... expensive, but the reviews say it's worth every penny. 翻譯: 這門課程是…不便宜，但評價都說物有所值。
EN:It's a nice car, just... expensive to maintain, you know?
翻譯:那是台好車，只是…保養起來不便宜，你懂吧？
正式寫作注意：在正式報告或學術寫作中，應避免使用過於口語化的強調詞（如 crazy, ridiculously）和填充停頓（如 ...）。建議改用「prohibitively expensive」、「costly」、「high-priced」或「carries a high price tag」等更精確、客觀的表述。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Expensive"?What fixed phrases with "Expensive" should I remember?
expensive taste
have/develop expensive taste
昂貴的品味；喜歡昂貴或高檔事物的品味
too expensive
be too expensive for someone/something
對某人/某物來說太貴
expensive mistake
an expensive mistake
代價高昂的錯誤
look expensive
look expensive
看起來很昂貴；顯得高檔
prohibitively expensive
prohibitively expensive
貴得令人望而卻步；價格高到無法負擔或不合情理
expensive to maintain
be expensive to maintain
維護/保養費用高昂
expensive habit
an expensive habit
昂貴的習慣；耗費金錢的嗜好
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Expensive"?Which "Expensive" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×The price is very expensive.
✓The price is very high.
In English, 'expensive' describes the cost or value of an item itself, not the abstract concept of 'price'. 'Price' can be 'high' or 'low'.
×This watch is much expensive.
✓This watch is very expensive.
Use 'very' with the base adjective 'expensive'. 'Much' is typically used with comparative forms (e.g., 'much more expensive') or with uncountable nouns.
×It expensives a lot.
✓It costs a lot. / It is expensive.
'Expensive' is an adjective, not a verb. To describe the action of having a high price, use the verb 'cost'.
×It is expensive for buy.
✓It is expensive to buy.
Use the infinitive ('to buy') after 'expensive' to express the purpose or action related to the cost. The structure is 'It is + adjective + to + verb'.
×This is more expensive than that one expensive.
✓This is more expensive than that one.
In a comparative sentence using 'than', do not repeat the adjective after the object being compared. The comparison is already clear.
×The furniture are expensive.
✓The furniture is expensive.
'Expensive' agrees with the subject noun. 'Furniture' is an uncountable noun in English and takes a singular verb.
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Expensive"?What are tense/participle forms of "Expensive"?