（为…）付出…（的）代价
to pay a (heavy) price (for)
Structure
（为 事情） 付出（了） 修饰语 的代价 ； 以 A 为代价
What it means
To pay a (heavy) price: 代价 is the cost in effort, health, money or loss, paid for something gained or for a mistake.
How it is built
（为 + what was gained or done wrong）+ 付出（了）+ size + 的代价: 他为一时的大意付出了沉重的代价 (He paid a heavy price for a moment's carelessness). Size: an adjective or a phrase (一身伤病的代价).
When to use it
Serious in tone, in writing and speech alike. Related frames: 以 A 为代价, “at the cost of A” (以严重的污染为代价); 不惜一切代价, “at all costs”.
Watch out
The verb is 付出: ✗花代价, ✗给代价 ✓付出代价. Put 了 after 付出, not at the end of a long object: ✓付出了沉重的代价.
Examples
为一枚金牌付出一身伤病的代价，值得吗？
Is a gold medal worth paying for with a body full of injuries?
他为一时的大意付出了沉重的代价。
He paid a heavy price for a moment’s carelessness.
这座城市的高速发展，是以严重的污染为代价的。
The city’s rapid growth came at the cost of serious pollution.
Learn this in Lesson 148 · HSK 7–9: 举重与举国体制 (Weightlifting and the state sports system)
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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