# 奇货可居

qí huò kě jū

Hoard something rare to gain an advantage

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Rare goods are worth holding

**Traditional Chinese:** 奇貨可居

**Register:** Evaluative · formal

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Describe exploiting scarcity for bargaining power.

Often implies speculation or calculated self-interest.

## Understanding the expression

A rare item can become more valuable when its owner waits instead of selling at once. The phrase extends this commercial logic to scarce resources, opportunities, and sometimes talented people. The holder expects scarcity to improve the terms of a future deal. That calculation can sound shrewd or exploitative depending on context. It describes treating something as a bargaining asset, not merely finding it interesting or beautiful.

## Examples

商家觉得这批旧唱片奇货可居，暂不出售。

### Traditional Chinese

商家覺得這批舊唱片奇貨可居，暫不出售。

shāng jiā jué de zhè pī jiù chàng piàn qí huò kě jū ， zàn bù chū shòu 。

The dealer sees the old records as valuable rarities and is holding them.

他把独家资料当作奇货可居，等人出高价。

### Traditional Chinese

他把獨家資料當作奇貨可居，等人出高價。

tā bǎ dú jiā zī liào dàng zuò qí huò kě jū ， děng rén chū gāo jià 。

He holds the exclusive information until someone offers a high price.

这些限量鞋被炒家视为奇货可居。

### Traditional Chinese

這些限量鞋被炒家視為奇貨可居。

zhè xiē xiàn liàng xié bèi chǎo jiā shì wèi qí huò kě jū 。

Speculators regard these limited shoes as goods worth hoarding.

她不愿把自己的专利当成奇货可居。

### Traditional Chinese

她不願把自己的專利當成奇貨可居。

tā bú yuàn bǎ zì jǐ de zhuān lì dàng chéng qí huò kě jū 。

She does not want to hoard her patent to drive up its price.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A5%87%E8%B2%A8%E5%8F%AF%E5%B1%85)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=42&webMd=1&la=0)

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