Chinese word

利息

Pronunciation

Pinyinlì xī

Meaning

  • nouninterest

Example

银行存款会产生利息。yín háng cún kuǎn huì chǎn shēng lì xī

Bank deposits earn interest.

Illustration for 利息 (interest)

More examples

公司每年要支付利息。gōng sī měi nián yào zhī fù lì xī

The company must pay interest every year.

Core concept

A time-linked addition to the original amount, paid for the right to use money or received for allowing its use.

Common phrases

  • 支付利息zhī fù lì xī

    pay interest

  • 存款利息cún kuǎn lì xī

    interest on deposits

  • 利息收入lì xī shōu rù

    interest income

Similar words

利率lì lǜ: The percentage used to calculate the money charged or paid for using funds.
收益shōu yì: The money earned by investing funds or putting them to work.

Definition in Chinese

为借贷或存款等资金使用，根据约定利率随时间对本金计算并作为回报或费用支付的金额。wèi jiè dài huò cún kuǎn děng zī jīn shǐ yòng gēn jù yuē dìng lì lǜ suí shí jiān duì běn jīn jì suàn bìng zuò wéi huí bào huò fèi yòng zhī fù de jīn é

Word origin

利息 (lìxī, "interest") combines 利 (lì, "benefit") with 息 (xī, "increase"), naming the added amount linked to lending or using money.

Usage tips

  • The same word applies to money received from savings and money paid on a loan, so the role of saver or borrower shows who gains or pays it.

Related words

  • 利息收入lì xī shōu rùinterest incomenoun
  • 利息支出lì xī zhī chūinterest expensenoun

Word lists with this word