代金 (dài jīn) — (noun) voucher or coupon that can be used in place of cash; cash equivalent (in a commercial context)

Definition

代金 refers to a cash-equivalent voucher or coupon used in place of money for purchases. It pairs with 券 (代金券) or 卡 (代金卡) to form common commercial terms.

noun
voucher or coupon that can be used in place of cashcash equivalent (in a commercial context)
Measure word · 张

Examples

  • 代金。
    Zhè zhāng dài jīn quàn kě yǐ zài chāo shì shǐ yòng.
    This voucher can be used at the supermarket.
  • 代金。
    Gōng sī gěi yuán gōng fā le wǔ bǎi yuán dài jīn kǎ.
    The company issued a 500-yuan cash equivalent card to employees.
  • ，代金。
    Jié zhàng shí, nǐ kě yǐ yòng dài jīn dǐ yí bù fen xiāo fèi.
    When checking out, you can use the voucher to cover part of the purchase.

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dàisubstitute
金jīnmoney

代 means substituting for cash, and 金 means money, so the whole is a cash substitute.

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.

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.