奢侈 (shē chǐ) is a compound word meaning 'luxury' or 'extravagance' — referring to spending or living beyond what is necessary or reasonable, often with connotations of wastefulness or indulgence. The first character 奢 (shē) means 'extravagant' or 'luxurious', while the second 侈 (chǐ) reinforces this sense, meaning 'excessive' or 'lavish'. Together, they form a tightly bound, slightly formal term that emphasizes moral or practical disapproval of excess — it’s rarely used neutrally or positively like the English 'luxury' sometimes is.

This word appears frequently in discussions about consumption habits, personal finance, environmental impact, and social values. It commonly modifies nouns (e.g., 奢侈品 'luxury goods'), functions as a predicate adjective ('这太奢侈了'), or serves as a subject/object ('反对奢侈'). While it can describe material things, it’s also used abstractly — for example, '奢侈的时间' (extravagant use of time) implies squandering a valuable, non-renewable resource.