值钱 (zhí qián) — valuable, costly | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

值钱 highlights that something has monetary worth — used for objects (antiques, jewelry, watches). 珍贵 and 宝贵 focus on rarity or sentimental value rather than price.

adjective

valuablecostly

Examples

值钱。
Zhè kuài shǒu biǎo hěn zhí qián.
This watch is very valuable.
值钱。
Zhè xiē jiù yóu piào fēi cháng zhí qián.
These old stamps are extremely valuable.
值钱。
Nà ge huā píng yì diǎn r yě bù zhí qián.
That vase is not valuable at all.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

值钱 pairs 值 (worth) with 钱 (money), so it means worth money.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻直值

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

直

直zhí值zhí

Same sound today

值 is made from 亻 (written in full as 人, a person) and 直, with 直 giving the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 錢; 钱 is its simplified writing.

金戔錢

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal; gold; money

Sound part声符shēngfú

戔

戔jiān錢qián

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 錢 combines 金, meaning metal or money, with 戔, which gives the sound; the simplified 钱 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Money & Currency 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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