'杀价' literally combines '杀' (shā), meaning 'to kill' or 'to cut down drastically', and '价' (jià), meaning 'price'. Together, it metaphorically means to aggressively lower or slash a price during bargaining — like 'killing' the seller's original asking price. It implies strong negotiation tactics, often used in informal markets, street stalls, or secondhand transactions where fixed pricing is uncommon.

This verb is commonly used in spoken Chinese and carries a slightly assertive or even competitive connotation. While not rude per se, it suggests the buyer is determined to get the lowest possible price, sometimes at the expense of the seller’s margin. It’s rarely used in formal business settings or online shopping with fixed prices; instead, it belongs to face-to-face haggling culture — especially common in tourist bazaars, flea markets, or family-run shops in smaller cities.