很划算。

Use it as a full sentence or a comment. You can say it after checking a price tag. You can also use it to describe a deal someone else found. It acts like an adjective in English. Just put 很 (very) or 太 (too) before it. It is the verbal equivalent of a satisfied nod. Use it when you feel like you beat the system.

Use it at the night market when you haggle successfully. Use it at a buffet when you eat your weight in seafood. It is perfect for group dinners where the bill is surprisingly low. Text it to a friend when you find a flight deal. It works for time too, not just money. If a shortcut saves you an hour, that is also 很划算.

Do not use it for luxury items that are clearly overpriced. If you buy a gold-plated toilet, nobody will believe it is 划算. Avoid using it in very somber or tragic situations. You wouldn't say a cheap funeral was 很划算. That would be very awkward. Also, do not use it to describe people. Calling a person 划算 makes no sense and sounds a bit robotic.

Chinese culture places a high value on thriftiness and "smart" spending. Being a savvy shopper is a point of pride. It is not about being stingy; it is about being clever. Sharing a 划算 deal is a common way to bond with friends. It shows you care about their wallet too. In the age of live-stream shopping, this phrase is everywhere.

If a deal is incredible, say 太划算了! (tài huásuàn le!). If you want to ask if something is worth it, ask 划算吗? (huásuàn ma?). For something that is a total rip-off, use 不划算 (bù huásuàn). You might also hear 超值 (chāozhí), which means "super value." But 很划算 remains the classic, go-to expression for daily life.