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利息 (lì xī) — interest (on loans or savings)

Definition

利息 (lìxī) is the financial 'interest' charged on loans or earned on savings — money, not a feeling. Compare 利率 (the interest rate, a percentage) and 利益 (profit, benefit).

noun
interest (on loans or savings)
Measure word · 笔

Examples

  • 利息。
    Yín háng dài kuǎn de lì xī hěn dī.
    The interest on bank loans is very low.
  • 利息。
    Bǎ qián cún rù yín háng kě yǐ huò dé lì xī.
    You can earn interest by depositing money in the bank.
  • 利息。
    Xìn yòng kǎ de lì xī bǐ dài kuǎn gāo.
    The interest on credit cards is higher than on loans.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

利lìprofit
息xīinterest

利 and 息 both refer to gain on money, so together they mean interest.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

利 combines 禾 (grain) and 刀 (knife), showing a knife used to cut grain.

Open 利 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 息, 自 is nose and 心 is heart, showing breath or life passing through one's nose.

Open 息 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 5Finance & Banking

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