Chinese word

定金

Pronunciation

Pinyindìng jīn

Meaning

  • noundeposit

Example

买票时先付定金可以保留座位。mǎi piào shí xiān fù dìng jīn ké yǐ bǎo liú zuò wèi

When buying a ticket, paying a deposit first can reserve a seat.

Illustration for 定金 (deposit)

More examples

签约时必须交定金以示诚意。qiān yuē shí bì xū jiāo dìng jīn yǐ shì chéng yì

When signing the contract, you must pay a deposit as a sign of good faith.

Core concept

Money paid in advance to secure a booking or agreement, with the rest settled later.

Common phrases

  • 交定金jiāo dìng jīn

    pay a deposit

  • 预付定金yù fù dìng jīn

    pay a deposit in advance

  • 补交定金bǔ jiāo dìng jīn

    pay an additional deposit

Similar words

订金dìng jīn: A small payment made ahead of time to secure a reservation or purchase order.
押金yā jīn: A refundable payment held during a rental to cover damage or failure to return what was borrowed.
保证金bǎo zhèng jīn: A security payment made to protect against loss when a contract or promise is broken.
首付款shǒu fù kuǎn: Part of the purchase price paid first when buying something.

Definition in Chinese

为保证合同或预约履行而预先交付的担保性款项。wèi bǎo zhèng hé tóng huò yù yuē lǚ xíng ér yù xiān jiāo fù de dān bǎo xìng kuǎn xiàng

Word origin

定 (dìng, "set") + 金 (jīn, "money") forms a term for money paid first to make an arrangement firm.

Usage tips

  • In everyday transactions, the refund or cancellation terms matter, so the agreement shows whether this first payment returns or is kept when a deal falls through.

Other meanings

  • down paymentnoun
  • advance paymentnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word