价钱 (jià qián) — price

Definition

Everyday spoken word for 'price', used most in daily shopping and casual talk. 价格 is the same meaning but more formal and written; the other 价∼ words (定价, 售价, etc.) are technical/business terms.

noun
price

Examples

  • 价钱。
    Zhè liàng chē de jià qián hěn hé lǐ.
    The price of this car is very reasonable.
  • 价钱。
    Liǎng gè shāng diàn de jià qián bù yí yàng.
    The prices at the two stores are not the same.
  • 价钱。
    Zhè ge jià qián wǒ néng jiē shòu.
    I can accept this price.

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.

价jiàprice
钱qiánmoney

价钱 combines 价 (price) and 钱 (money) to refer to the money asked for something.

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
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
介
介jiè价jiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

价 pairs 人 (person) with 介, which gives the sound.

Open 价 →

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 錢; 钱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal; gold; money
Sound part声符shēngfú
戔
戔jiān錢qián
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 錢 combines 金, meaning metal or money, with 戔, which gives the sound; the simplified 钱 is a later shorthand.

Open 钱 →
Appears in
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