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按揭 (àn jiē) — (verb) to take out a mortgage; to purchase (property) through a mortgage loan

Definition

A formal/banking term for 'mortgage' — used as a verb meaning to buy property with a loan, not the loan itself. Closest everyday synonym is 贷款 (dàikuǎn), but 贷款 refers to the loan generically, while 按揭 is specifically a housing/car mortgage.

verb
to take out a mortgageto purchase (property) through a mortgage loan

Examples

  • 按揭。
    Tā men àn jiē le nà tào fáng zi.
    They took out a mortgage on that apartment.
  • 按揭。
    Wǒ men àn jiē mǎi le zhè liàng chē.
    We bought this car with a mortgage.
  • 按揭？
    Nǐ dǎ suàn àn jiē duō shǎo nián?
    How many years do you plan to take the mortgage?

Origin

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān按àn
Same sound today

按 has 扌, the hand radical, and 安. The hand part points to an action done with the hand, while 安 supplies the sound and the idea of being at ease, linked to pressing down.

Open 按 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
曷
曷hé揭jiē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

揭 pairs 扌, the hand radical (full form 手), with 曷, which supplies the sound; the hand part fits meanings like lifting or taking off.

Open 揭 →
Appears in
Finance & Banking

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