安物(やすもの)

やすもの
noun
cheap item; bargain goods
shoppingquality
1. cheap item; low-quality goods; bargain stuff
An inexpensive item, typically implying poor quality. Often used with a negative connotation to suggest something is cheaply made or not worth buying.
これは安物(やすもの)だからすぐ壊(こわ)れる。
This is a cheap item, so it breaks easily.
安物(やすもの)の傘(かさ)はすぐに壊(こわ)れてしまう。
Cheap umbrellas break right away.
安物(やすもの)買(か)いの銭(ぜに)失(うしな)いという言葉(ことば)があるように、安(やす)いものには理由(りゆう)がある。
As the saying 'buy cheap, lose money' goes, cheap things come cheap for a reason.

Composed of 安(やす)い (cheap) + 物(もの) (thing). Almost always carries a negative nuance — it does not simply mean "inexpensive" but implies low quality. The word is commonly used when criticizing the quality of goods.

Common collocations

  • 安物(やすもの)の服(ふく): cheap clothes
  • 安物(やすもの)の時計(とけい): cheap watch
  • 安物(やすもの)買(か)いの銭(ぜに)失(うしな)い: penny wise, pound foolish (proverb)

Similar words

  • 格安(かくやす): bargain-priced — neutral or positive, emphasizing good value
  • 粗悪品(そあくひん): shoddy goods — more formal and strongly negative
  • お買(か)い得(どく): good deal — positive connotation, emphasizing value

Cultural note

The proverb 安物(やすもの)買(か)いの銭(ぜに)失(うしな)い is widely known and means buying cheap things ends up costing more in the long run, equivalent to the English "buy cheap, buy twice."

Related Words

Compare: 格安(かくやす) (bargain-priced)
Compare: お買(か)い得(どく) (good deal)
Compare: 高級(こうきゅう) (high-class)
Compare: 低品質(ていひんしつ) (low quality)
general
Added 2026.4.5 12:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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