金银财宝 (jīn yín cái bǎo) — riches; all kinds of valuables (gold, silver, treasure, jewels)

Definition

A literary, four-character set phrase for 'gold, silver, and all manner of riches' — used in folktales, legends, and classical-flavored writing rather than everyday speech.

noun
richesall kinds of valuables (gold, silver, treasure, jewels)

Examples

  • 金银财宝。
    Tā jiā lǐ yǒu shǔ bù qīng de jīn yín cái bǎo.
    His family has countless riches.
  • 金银财宝。
    Chuán shuō zhōng nà ge shān dòng lǐ cáng mǎn le jīn yín cái bǎo.
    Legend has it that cave is filled with treasures.
  • 金银财宝。
    Tā yì shēng de zhuī qiú jiù shì jī lěi gèng duō de jīn yín cái bǎo.
    His lifelong pursuit is to accumulate more wealth.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

金银gold and silver
金jīngold银yínsilver
联合Side by side
财宝wealth and treasures
财cáiwealth宝bǎotreasure
联合Side by side

金银 gives gold and silver, and 财宝 adds wealth and treasures, together naming all kinds of riches.

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.

金 was drawn with marks for two pieces of metal, along with a part that gave its sound; it first meant copper, then metals and gold.

Open 金 →

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 銀; 银 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn銀yín
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 銀 has 金, meaning metal, and 艮, used for the sound; the simplified 银 is a shorthand.

Open 银 →

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 財; 财 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishell
Sound part声符shēngfú
才
才cái財cái
Same sound today

The traditional form 財 has 貝 (shell) next to 才, which gives the sound; the simplified 财 is a later shorthand.

Open 财 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寶; 宝 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 琡琡chùjade
  • 貝貝bèicowry

The traditional form 寶 shows 宀 (house), 琡 (jade), and 貝 (cowry), drawn together as treasures in a house.

Open 宝 →

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