损失费 (sǔn shī fèi) — compensation for loss; damages

Definition

A formal/legal term for 'compensation for loss / damages' — money paid to make up for a specific loss. Common in insurance, court judgments, and accident settlements.

noun
compensation for lossdamages
Measure word · 笔

Examples

  • 损失费。
    Bǎo xiǎn gōng sī péi cháng le tā de sǔn shī fèi.
    The insurance company compensated him for his loss.
  • 损失费。
    Fǎ yuàn pàn jué tā zhī fù yì bǐ sǔn shī fèi.
    The court ordered him to pay a sum of damages.
  • 损失费。
    Zhè cì shì gù de sǔn shī fèi yóu gōng sī chéng dān.
    The compensation for this accident is borne by the company.

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.

损失loss
损sǔndamage失shīloss
联合Side by side
费fèifee

损 means damage and 失 means loss; 损失费 is a payment for such loss.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 損; 损 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán損sǔn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 損 pairs 手 (hand) with 員 as a sound part; the simplified 损 is a later shorthand, so its visible parts are not the original components.

Open 损 →

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

The shape is explained as a fallen person's footprint surrounded by drops of blood; another reading pairs 手 (hand) and 乙 to show something falling from a hand.

Open 失 →

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 費; 费 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowry
Sound part声符shēngfú
弗
弗fú費fèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 費 has 貝, a cowry shell, and 弗, which gives a sound; the simplified 费 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 费 →

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