Definition
保证金 refers to a sum of money deposited as a guarantee in various contexts — for example, when renting an apartment (security deposit), buying property (down payment), or in legal proceedings (bail). The specific English equivalent (cash deposit, down payment, bail, earnest money) depends on the situation; the common thread is that the money is held temporarily to ensure a promise or obligation is fulfilled.
n.
(general) security depositcash deposit (money placed as a guarantee)(real estate) down paymentearnest money(law) bail
Examples
- ，保证金。Zū fáng shí, nǐ xūyào xiān jiāo liǎng ge yuè de bǎo zhèng jīn.When renting a house, you need to first pay two months' security deposit.
- 保证金。Mǎi zhè tào fángzi xūyào xiān fù bǎi fēn zhī èrshí de bǎo zhèng jīn.To buy this house, you need to first pay a twenty percent down payment.
- 保证金。Fǎguān yāoqiú tā jiāo shí wàn yuán bǎo zhèng jīn cáinéng zànshí bèi shìfàng.The judge required him to pay a bail of one hundred thousand yuan to be temporarily released.
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