克扣 (kè kòu) — to embezzle part of what should be issued (e.g., wages, supplies)

Definition

Refers specifically to siphoning off part of wages, funds, rations, or goods that should be issued in full — the focus is on the short-changing, not the outright theft.

verb
to embezzle part of what should be issued (e.g., wages, supplies)

Examples

  • 克扣。
    Gōng sī bù néng kè kòu yuán gōng de gōng zī.
    The company cannot embezzle part of the employees' wages.
  • 克扣。
    Tā yīn wèi kè kòu jīng fèi bèi kāi chú le.
    He was fired for embezzling funds.
  • 克扣。
    Shāng jiā kè kòu shāng pǐn fèn liàng shì wéi fǎ de.
    It is illegal for businesses to give short measure on goods.

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.

克kèwithhold
扣kòudeduct

克 and 扣 both carry the sense of withholding or deducting, so they mean to keep back part of what is owed.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 克 →

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
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
口
口kǒu扣kòu
Same sound today

扣 puts 手 (hand) beside 口 (mouth); 口 gives the sound, while 手 shows it is about a hand action.

Open 扣 →

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