Japanese meaning of 安物買いの銭失い
Reading:
やすものがいのぜにうしない (yasumonogai no zeni ushinai)
English Translation:
Buy cheap, buy twice
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Buy cheap, buy twice.
Cultural Context:
Reflects Japanese consumer culture favoring durable, high-quality goods over disposables.
安物を買うとすぐに買い替える羽目になるという意味。
使い捨てよりも耐久性のある高品質品を好む日本の消費文化を反映している。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 安物買い (yasumono-gai) = “buying cheap goods” (noun phrase; 安物 “cheap item” + 買い “buying”)
• の (no) = possessive/attributive particle
• 銭失い (zeni-ushinai) = “loss of money” (noun phrase; 銭 “money” + 失い “loss”)
A noun phrase linked by の, showing cause and result in a compact form.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be misunderstood as just “don’t buy cheap,” missing the focus on long-term loss.
Example
Basic Example
安さだけで買うと結局高くつく。安物買いの銭失いだ。
If you buy on price alone, you’ll pay twice—Buy cheap, buy twice.
Applied Example
激安防具を買ったら即壊れた。安物買いの銭失い。
That bargain armor snapped on the first hit—Buy cheap, buy twice.