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不惜

not hesitate to (pay a price); go so far as to

Structure
(为了 目的 ,) 主语 不惜 代价(动词短语/名词)(也要 做某事)

What it means

“Not hesitate to pay a price”: the subject is ready to spend money, time or health, or make a sacrifice, to reach a goal. It shows determination.

How it is built

(为了 + goal,) subject + 不惜 + price (+ 也要 + action): 为了买到游戏机,他不惜排了一夜的队 (he went so far as to queue all night). Set phrase: 不惜一切代价.

When to use it

Neutral: it can praise (不惜牺牲) or condemn (不惜违法). Written and formal speech. It is the opposite of 舍不得 (lesson 2-14): 他舍不得花钱 vs 他不惜花钱.

Watch out

Don’t read it as 不可惜 or 不珍惜. What follows 不惜 is the price paid, not the goal: the goal comes before with 为了 or after with 也要.

Examples

团队不惜放弃更容易赚钱的路,埋头做了大约六年。
The team did not hesitate to give up the easier road to profit, and kept their heads down for about six years.
为了买到第一批游戏机,他不惜在店门口排了一夜的队。
To get one of the first consoles, he went so far as to queue all night outside the shop.
有些商家为了抢客户,不惜一切代价打价格战。
Some firms will start a price war at any cost to win customers.
Learn this in Lesson 67 · HSK 6: 《黑神话:悟空》 (Black Myth: Wukong and the games industry)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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