代理费 (dài lǐ fèi) — agency fee; commission (paid to an agent or representative)

Definition

noun
agency feecommission (paid to an agent or representative)

Examples

  • 代理费。
    Zhè bǐ dài lǐ fèi yóu kè hù chéng dān.
    This agency fee is borne by the client.
  • 代理费。
    Wǒ men gōng sī shōu qǔ de dài lǐ fèi shì bǎi fēn zhī wǔ.
    The commission our company charges is 5 percent.
  • 代理费。
    Qiān hé tong qián yào què rèn dài lǐ fèi de jù tǐ jīn é.
    Before signing the contract, confirm the specific amount of the agency fee.

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.

代理
代dàisubstitute理lǐmanage
联合Side by side
费fèifee

代理 combines 代 and 理 to mean agency, and 费 is the fee paid for it.

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
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì代dài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

Open 代 →

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
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ理lǐ
Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

Open 理 →

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 費; 费 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowry
Sound part声符shēngfú
弗
弗fú費fèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 費 has 貝, a cowry shell, and 弗, which gives a sound; the simplified 费 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 费 →

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