HSK · Level 42
120 words
Chinese word
生活费
Pronunciation
Pinyinshēng huó fèi
Meaning
- nounliving expenses
Example
父母每个月给我生活费。fù mǔ měi gè yuè gěi wǒ shēng huó fèi
My parents give me money for living expenses every month.
More examples
为了支付生活费，他不得不兼职。wèi le zhī fù shēng huó fèi tā bù dé bù jiān zhí
To pay his living expenses, he has to work part-time.
Core concept
It is the everyday budget that keeps ordinary life running.
Common phrases
支付生活费zhī fù shēng huó fèi
pay living expenses
负担生活费fù dān shēng huó fèi
cover living expenses
打工赚生活费dǎ gōng zhuàn shēng huó fèi
earn living expenses by working part-time
Similar words
费用fèi yòng: Money that must be paid for a service, activity, or other need.
支出zhī chū: The amount of money actually paid out during a particular period.
开销kāi xiāo: The small or routine costs of everyday life.
生活开支shēng huó kāi zhī: The total regular spending needed to keep daily life going.
Definition in Chinese
为满足日常生活需要而定期或临时支出的费用。wèi mǎn zú rì cháng shēng huó xū yào ér dìng qī huò lín shí zhī chū de fèi yòng
Word origin
生 (shēng, "life") + 活 (huó, "living") + 费 (fèi, "expense") forms a compound for money spent on the needs of everyday life.
Usage tips
- English speakers may think of an allowance as pocket money, but this word focuses on the regular costs that the money is meant to cover.