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压岁钱 (yā suì qián) — lucky money given to children during Chinese New Year

Definition

Cash that elders give to children at Chinese New Year, symbolizing good luck and protection for the year ahead. Usually given in a red envelope (红包) and often saved by the child or used for small expenses.

noun
lucky money given to children during Chinese New Year

Examples

  • ，压岁钱。
    Guò nián shí, wǒ shōu dào le hěn duō yā suì qián.
    During the New Year, I received a lot of lucky money.
  • 压岁钱。
    Zhǎng bèi gěi hái zi men fā yā suì qián.
    The elders give lucky money to the children.
  • 压岁钱。
    Wǒ bǎ yā suì qián cún dào yín háng le.
    I deposited the lucky money in the bank.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

压岁ward off the year
压yāward off岁suìyear
动宾Verb + object
钱qiánmoney

压 means to ward off, 岁 is the year, and 钱 is money, so this is money given to ward off harm for the new year.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 壓; 压 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔdust
Sound part声符shēngfú
厭
厭yàn壓yā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 壓 is built from 土, dust, and 厭, which gives the sound; 压 is the simplified form of 壓.

Open 压 →

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 歲; 岁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
步步bù
Sound part声符shēngfú
戉
戉yuè歲suì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 歲, the part 步 shows movement over time, and 戉 gives the sound; this explanation is about 歲, not the simplified 岁.

Open 岁 →

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.

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.

Open 钱 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 6

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