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提成 (tí chéng) — (verb-object) to take a commission; to earn a percentage (of sales); (noun) commission; percentage cut

Definition

提成 works as both a verb ('to take a commission') and a noun ('the commission itself'). It refers to a percentage cut of a sale, distinct from 佣金 (yòngjīn), the more general 'brokerage/fee' paid for a service.

verb
(verb-object) to take a commissionto earn a percentage (of sales)
noun
commissionpercentage cut

Examples

  • ，提成。
    Tā mài le yí tào fáng zi, tí le sān chéng tí chéng.
    He sold a house and took a 30% commission.
  • 提成？
    Zhè ge yuè de tí chéng nǐ ná dào le ma?
    Did you get this month's commission?
  • 提成。
    Xiāo shòu yuán yì bān àn xiāo shòu é de bǎi fēn zhī wǔ tí chéng.
    Salespeople generally take a 5% commission on sales.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

提títake out
成chéngpercentage

提 means take out and 成 means percentage, so a commission is taken.

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shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
是
是shì提tí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

提 shows 扌 (hand) beside 是, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 提 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →
Appears in
Business & CommerceMoney & Currency

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