资费 (zī fèi) — expenses, charges, fees

Definition

资费 specifically refers to the rates or fees charged for telecom and network services (phone, data, internet plans). It is narrower than the general word 费用, which covers any kind of expense or cost.

noun
expenseschargesfees

Examples

  • 资费。
    Zhè ge yuè de diàn huà zī fèi bǐ shàng ge yuè gāo le hěn duō.
    This month's phone charges are much higher than last month's.
  • 资费。
    Kāi tōng zhè xiàng fú wù xū yào jiǎo nà yí dìng de zī fèi.
    To activate this service you need to pay certain fees.
  • ，资费。
    Bù tóng de tào cān, zī fèi yě bù yí yàng.
    Different plans have different rates.

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.

资zīfunds
费fèifees

资 (funds) and 费 (fees) combine to name charges or expenses.

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 資; 资 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishell-money
Sound part声符shēngfú
次
次cì資zī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 資 puts 次 above 貝, a shell-money sign, to write property or resource; 次 supplies the sound. The simplified 资 is a shorthand, so do not treat its parts as historical.

Open 资 →

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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