HSK · Level 66
75 words
Chinese word
押
Pronunciation
Pinyinyā
Meaning
- verbpawn
Example
他把金表押在当铺里。tā bǎ jīn biǎo yā zài dàng pù lǐ
He pawns the gold watch at a pawnshop.
More examples
她把名牌包押在当铺，暂时缓解了经济压力。tā bǎ míng pái bāo yā zài dàng pù zàn shí huán jiě le jīng jì yā lì
She pawned her designer bag at a pawnshop, temporarily easing her financial pressure.
Core concept
An item temporarily leaves its owner's hands as a promise of repayment and returns when the debt is settled.
Common phrases
把手表押在当铺bǎ shóu biǎo yā zài dàng pù
pawn a watch at a pawnshop
把名牌包押在当铺bǎ míng pái bāo yā zài dàng pù
pawn a designer bag at a pawnshop
Similar words
抵押dǐ yā: Using property of high value, especially real estate, to secure repayment of borrowed money.
典当diǎn dàng: Leaving an item with a pawnshop to borrow money and recover the item after paying back the loan.
质押zhì yā: Pledging movable property or a financial right to secure repayment of a loan.
Definition in Chinese
把物品作为担保交付以换取暂时款项，通常可在还款后取回bǎ wù pǐn zuò wéi dān bǎo jiāo fù yǐ huàn qǔ zàn shí kuǎn xiàng tōng cháng kě zài huán kuǎn hòu qǔ huí
Word origin
押 (yā, "pawn") combines 扌 (shǒu, "hand") with 甲 (jiǎ, "shell") as a sound element, while its older sense of pressing or holding down helps explain keeping an item as security.
Usage tips
- English speakers often connect pawn with a pawnbroker, but 押 (yā, "pawn") also fits wider security arrangements, so the surrounding context matters when no shop or lender is mentioned.