定钱 (dìng qián) — deposit; earnest money

Definition

A noun for a deposit or earnest money paid upfront to secure a deal — usually non-refundable if the buyer backs out. Common in real estate, rentals, and large purchases.

noun
depositearnest money

Examples

  • ，定钱。
    Mǎi fáng zi de shí hou, yào xiān fù yì bǐ dìng qián.
    When buying a house, you need to pay a deposit first.
  • 定钱。
    Fáng dōng yāo qiú wǒ men jiāo liǎng gè yuè de fáng zū zuò wéi dìng qián.
    The landlord requires us to pay two months' rent as a deposit.
  • ，定钱。
    Rú guǒ qǔ xiāo dìng dān, dìng qián bú huì tuì huán.
    If you cancel the order, the deposit will not be refunded.

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.

定dìngfixed
钱qiánmoney

定 gives the idea of being fixed or pledged, and 钱 is money, so the word means a deposit.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng定dìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Open 定 →

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 →

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