Vijana wengi wanaojifunza Kiingereza hupata shida kutofautisha maneno "expensive" na "costly." Ingawa yana maana karibu, kuna tofauti kidogo. "Expensive" hutumika kuelezea kitu ambacho bei yake ni kubwa kuliko vile unavyotarajia au ambacho ni vigumu kumudu. "Costly" mara nyingi hutumika kuelezea kitu ambacho bei yake ni kubwa, lakini pia kinaweza kuashiria madhara au athari hasi. Kwa mfano, kosa linaweza kuwa "costly mistake." Hili haliwezi kuelezewa kama "expensive mistake."

Hebu tuangalie mifano michache:

• Expensive:

  • Kiingereza: That car is very expensive; I can't afford it.
  • Kiswahili: Gari hilo ni ghali sana; siwezi kuimudu.
  • Kiingereza: Diamonds are expensive.
  • Kiswahili: Almasi ni ghali.

• Costly:

  • Kiingereza: His costly mistake led to the loss of his job.
  • Kiswahili: Kosa lake la gharama kubwa lilisababisha kupoteza kazi yake.
  • Kiingereza: Ignoring the warning proved to be costly.
  • Kiswahili: Kupuuza onyo hilo kulithibitika kuwa na madhara makubwa.

Kumbuka kwamba, ingawa yanaweza kutumika kwa kubadilishana katika baadhi ya visa, kuna tofauti ndogo ya maana. "Expensive" inahusu bei kubwa tu, wakati "costly" inaweza kujumuisha bei kubwa pamoja na matokeo hasi.

Happy learning!