‘抬价’ is a verb meaning 'to raise prices'—typically used when sellers intentionally increase the price of goods or services, often to take advantage of high demand, scarcity, or competitive bidding. The first character 抬 (tái) literally means 'to lift' or 'to raise', suggesting upward movement; the second character 价 (jià) means 'price' or 'value'. Together, they form a compact, action-oriented compound expressing deliberate price inflation. It carries a slightly negative or critical connotation, implying the increase is unjustified, opportunistic, or harmful to buyers.

This term commonly appears in discussions about markets, real estate, auctions, and consumer rights. It’s frequently used in news reports, economic commentary, and everyday complaints about rising costs—especially when price hikes seem unreasonable or coordinated. Unlike neutral terms like ‘涨价’ (zhǎng jià, 'prices rise'), ‘抬价’ implies agency and intent on the part of sellers, making it more evaluative and context-sensitive.