薪俸 (xīn fèng) — salary (formal term, often used in official or written contexts)

Definition

A formal, written term for 'salary,' typically found in official, legal, or literary contexts rather than everyday speech.

noun
salary (formal term, often used in official or written contexts)

Examples

  • 薪俸。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ ná dào de xīn fèng hěn gāo.
    The salary he gets at the company is very high.
  • 薪俸，。
    Zhè fèn gōng zuò de xīn fèng suī rán bù gāo, dàn shì hěn yǒu yì yì.
    Although the salary for this job is not high, it is very meaningful.
  • 薪俸。
    Tā men yāo qiú tí gāo xīn fèng dài yù.
    They demanded an increase in salary and benefits.

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.

薪xīnsalary
俸fèngsalary

薪 and 俸 both refer to pay; together they form a formal word for salary.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
新
新xīn薪xīn
Same sound today

In 薪, the top 艹 (plants, written 艸) marks plant material, and 新 (xīn) gives the sound.

Open 薪 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
奉
奉fèng俸fèng
Same sound today

俸 pairs 亻, a person, with 奉, which gives it its sound.

Open 俸 →

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