安い経験
cheap experience
Littéralement: cheap (安い) + experience (経験)
Use this to describe affordable fun or a small mistake that taught you something valuable.
En 15 secondes
- An experience that cost very little money to have.
- Often used for budget travel or low-stakes life lessons.
- Can mean 'low quality' if used in the wrong context.
Signification
This phrase describes an activity or event that didn't cost much money but still provided you with a new memory or lesson.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Talking about a budget trip
この旅行はとても安い経験でした。
This trip was a very cheap experience.
Reflecting on a small mistake
失敗したけど、安い経験だったね。
I failed, but it was a cheap experience (lesson).
Discussing a company workshop
あれは会社にとって安い経験になりました。
That became an inexpensive experience for the company.
Contexte culturel
In Japan, the concept of 'Cospa' (cost-performance) is a national obsession. This phrase reflects the value placed on finding high-quality experiences without overspending, which is a point of pride for many savvy city-dwellers.
The 'Lesson' Nuance
If you want to sound more like a native speaker when you make a mistake, say '安い授業料' (cheap tuition) instead of '安い経験'.
Avoid for People
Never call a person's background '安い経験.' It sounds like you are saying their life is shallow or trashy.
En 15 secondes
- An experience that cost very little money to have.
- Often used for budget travel or low-stakes life lessons.
- Can mean 'low quality' if used in the wrong context.
What It Means
安い経験 is the ultimate 'budget-friendly' phrase. It literally describes an experience that was inexpensive. Think of it as the 'street food' of life events. It’s not about being 'cheap' in a bad way. It’s about getting a lot of memories for very little money. Sometimes, it also refers to a 'cheap lesson.' This is when you make a small mistake that teaches you a big truth. You didn't lose much, but you gained a lot of wisdom. It’s a very practical, down-to-earth expression.
How To Use It
You can use this phrase just like a normal noun. You can say 安い経験でした to mean 'It was a cheap experience.' It’s very easy to slot into conversations. You can use it to describe a trip or a hobby. You can also use it to describe a small failure. It’s a great way to show you are a smart spender. Just remember to keep the tone light. It’s about the price tag, not necessarily the emotional depth.
When To Use It
Use this when you find a great deal. Maybe you went to a free museum. Maybe you ate at a 100-yen sushi conveyor belt. It’s perfect for talking to friends about your weekend. It’s also great for texting about a funny mistake. If you bought the wrong train ticket but saw a beautiful view, that’s a 安い経験. It’s a very common way to talk about life in Japan’s 'cost-performance' culture. You’ll sound like a local who knows how to save money.
When NOT To Use It
Be careful not to sound insulting. Never use this to describe someone’s career or life story. That would imply their life is 'low quality' or 'worthless.' Also, avoid using it for formal ceremonies. Don't call a simple wedding a 安い経験. Even if it was cheap, use a word like リーズナブル (reasonable) instead. 安い can sometimes mean 'low quality' if you aren't careful. Use it for activities, not for people’s feelings or important milestones.
Cultural Background
Japan has a deep appreciation for 'Cospa' (cost-performance). This is the idea of getting the most value for your yen. 安い経験 fits perfectly into this mindset. There is also a cultural value in 'learning the hard way.' If you make a mistake that costs very little, Japanese people see it as a gift. They might say it was 'cheap tuition' for the school of life. It shows a very resilient and positive way of looking at small failures.
Common Variations
You will often hear いい経験 (a good experience) for general things. If you want to sound more formal about a cheap price, use 安価な経験. If a mistake was a cheap lesson, the most common idiom is 安い授業料 (cheap tuition). This specifically means 'I learned my lesson for a low price.' If the experience was actually bad because it was cheap, you might use 安物買いの銭失い (losing money by buying cheap things).
Notes d'usage
This phrase is neutral but leans toward informal. It is literal, so ensure the context makes it clear whether you are praising the value or commenting on the low quality.
The 'Lesson' Nuance
If you want to sound more like a native speaker when you make a mistake, say '安い授業料' (cheap tuition) instead of '安い経験'.
Avoid for People
Never call a person's background '安い経験.' It sounds like you are saying their life is shallow or trashy.
Cospa Culture
Japanese people love discussing 'Cospa.' Using this phrase shows you appreciate value, which is a respected trait.
Exemples
6この旅行はとても安い経験でした。
This trip was a very cheap experience.
Focuses on the low cost of the travel.
失敗したけど、安い経験だったね。
I failed, but it was a cheap experience (lesson).
Used when a mistake didn't have serious consequences.
あれは会社にとって安い経験になりました。
That became an inexpensive experience for the company.
A neutral way to discuss low-cost training.
100均のDIYは安い経験で楽しいよ！
100-yen shop DIY is a cheap experience and fun!
Casual and enthusiastic about a hobby.
1000円カットは、面白いけど安い経験だった。
The 1000-yen haircut was a funny but cheap experience.
Implies the quality matched the low price.
公園の散歩は、私にとって最高の安い経験です。
Walking in the park is the best cheap experience for me.
Expresses gratitude for simple, free pleasures.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about a free concert.
無料のコンサートは、とても___経験でした。
`安い` (cheap) fits because the concert was free (無料).
How would you describe a small mistake that taught you something?
少し間違えたけど、いい勉強になった。___経験だ。
In this context, `安い` means the 'cost' of the mistake was low.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of '安い経験'
Talking to friends about a cheap meal.
安い経験だったわ！
General description of a budget activity.
それは安い経験ですね。
Describing business costs (rarely used this way).
安価な経験となりました。
When to say '安い経験'
Street Food
Trying a 200 yen snack.
Small Mistake
Losing a 10 yen coin.
Free Event
Attending a local festival.
Budget Travel
Staying in a capsule hotel.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot always. While it often means 'good value,' it can sometimes imply that an experience was shallow or lacked quality because it was cheap.
It's a bit casual. In a formal meeting, use 安価な (low-priced) or 低コストの (low cost) instead of 安い.
Yes. いい経験 means 'a good experience' regardless of price. 安い経験 specifically highlights that the cost was low.
You would say 高い経験 (takai keiken). This is often used when a mistake cost you a lot of money.
Not really. Textbooks prefer 貴重な経験 (precious experience). 安い経験 is more conversational and literal.
Be careful! If you call a date a 安い経験, your partner might think you are calling them cheap. Stick to 楽しかった (it was fun).
The opposite in terms of value is 貴重な経験 (kichouna keiken), which means a precious or valuable experience.
Not necessarily. It only refers to the monetary cost or the 'weight' of the lesson learned.
Yes! If you started a hobby with very little money, like drawing with a pencil, it's a perfect 安い経験.
No, it's a standard collocation of two common words, but it's used most frequently in casual or neutral daily speech.
Expressions liées
コスパがいい
Good cost-performance / Great value
安い授業料
A cheap lesson (learned from a mistake)
いい経験
A good experience
貴重な経験
A precious/valuable experience
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