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补助 (bǔ zhù) — to subsidize; subsidy, allowance

Definition

补助 is a formal subsidy paid by an institution (government, school, employer) — broader than 零花钱 (parent-given pocket money) and more official than 补贴, which is the everyday term for the same idea.

to subsidizesubsidyallowance

Examples

  • 补助。
    Guó jiā bǔ zhù pín kùn dì qū xué xiào jiàn shè.
    The state subsidizes school construction in impoverished areas.
  • 补助。
    Zhè xiàng bǔ zhù yòng yú zhī chí nóng yè fā zhǎn.
    This subsidy is used to support agricultural development.
  • 补助。
    Xué xiào bǔ zhù kùn nan xué shēng shēng huó fèi.
    The school subsidizes the living expenses of needy students.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

补bǔmake up
助zhùhelp

Make up and help combine to mean subsidize or a subsidy.

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 補; 补 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ補bǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 補 shows 衤 (clothes) beside 甫, which gives the sound; the simplified 补 is a later shorthand, so its shape is not the historical breakdown.

Open 补 →

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
力力lìstrong arm
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě助zhù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

助 pairs 力, a strong arm, with 且, which gives the sound; the meaning is help with strength.

Open 助 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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