How do I say 'too expensive'?

太贵了 is the phrase that begins every market negotiation in China. But the way you say it determines whether you get a better price or a polite shrug.

The art of Chinese bargaining has its own vocabulary:

• 贵了 (not 太贵了) is the insider form — one word shorter, and that matters. It says “this is above market” rather than “this exceeds my personal budget.” Vendors hear the difference.
• 便宜一点 (a bit cheaper) is the soft ask. 便宜点吧 adds the softening 吧 and turns it into a request rather than a demand.
• 最低多少 (what’s the lowest?) asks for the vendor’s floor price. They may or may not give a real answer, but it signals you are serious about buying.

The body language matters as much as the words: if you show too much enthusiasm for the item, the price sticks. The classic move is to express interest, then walk away slowly — vendors often call out a lower price as you leave. This is not rude; it is the script both parties know.