1.
inexpensive, low-priced, cheap
Low in price. A formal or written-style word that can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context. When describing price alone, it is neutral; when implying low quality, it carries a negative nuance.
安価な商品を探す。
To look for inexpensive products.
安価で品質のいい素材が手に入った。
I got my hands on an inexpensive yet high-quality material.
海外から安価な労働力を輸入することの問題点が議論されている。
The problems of importing cheap labor from overseas are being debated.
USAGE:
A formal alternative to 安い. Commonly used in writing, business contexts, and news reports. Unlike 安い, which is purely conversational and neutral, 安価 can carry a slight implication of low quality when used to describe goods, though this depends on context.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 安価な商品: inexpensive goods
- 安価に提供する: to offer at a low price
- 安価な労働力: cheap labor
- 安価で高品質: cheap and high quality
SIMILAR WORDS:
安い is the everyday word for "cheap/inexpensive." 安価 is more formal and often used in written or business contexts. 廉価 is even more formal and literary.