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支付 (zhī fù) — to pay (a sum of money, a fee, etc.)

Definition

支付 is a more formal word for 'to pay' (bills, fees, online transactions) — use it in writing, business, or digital contexts. The everyday spoken equivalent is 付.

verb
to pay (a sum of money, a fee, etc.)

Examples

  • 支付？
    Wǒ kě yǐ yòng zhī fù bǎo zhī fù ma?
    Can I pay with Alipay?
  • 支付。
    Tā yǐ jīng yòng xiàn jīn zhī fù le.
    He already paid in cash.
  • 支付。
    Zhè ge yuè de fáng zū wǒ yǐ jīng zhī fù le.
    I've already paid this month's rent.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

支zhīpay
付fùpay

支 and 付 both mean to pay, reinforcing the sense of making a payment.

Characters in this word

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

支 pairs 又 (hand) with 十, a shortened form of 竹 (bamboo), to picture a bamboo branch.

Open 支 →

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

付 pairs 亻 (person) with 又 (hand), showing a person handing something to someone.

Open 付 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4Money & Currency5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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