Understanding "利息" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 利息
• Pinyin: lì xī
• Literal Meaning: "Benefit" (利) + "Breath/Rest" (息) → "Benefit from resting" (referring to earnings on idle money)
• Primary Meaning: Interest (the amount charged for borrowing money or earned from savings/investments)

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage:
• "利息" is a financial term used in banking, loans, investments, and savings. It can refer to both:
  1. Interest earned (e.g., from a savings account).
  2. Interest paid (e.g., on a loan or credit card).

• It is neutral in tone and commonly appears in formal and informal financial discussions.

• Character Breakdown:

• 利 (lì): Means "benefit," "profit," or "advantage."
• 息 (xī): Originally means "breath" or "rest," but in finance, it implies "growth" or "yield" over time (like money "resting" and earning returns).

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 我的银行存款每年有3%的利息。
   Pinyin: Wǒ de yínháng cúnkuǎn měi nián yǒu 3% de lìxī.
   English: My bank deposit earns 3% interest annually.

2. Chinese: 贷款的利息太高了，我负担不起。
   Pinyin: Dàikuǎn de lìxī tài gāo le, wǒ fùdān bù qǐ.
   English: The loan's interest is too high; I can't afford it.

3. Chinese: 支付宝的余额宝每天都会计算利息。
   Pinyin: Zhīfùbǎo de yú'ébǎo měi tiān dōu huì jìsuàn lìxī.
   English: Alipay's Yu'e Bao calculates interest daily.

Cultural Notes

• In China, "利息" is a key concept in personal finance, especially with the popularity of digital platforms like Yu'e Bao (a money-market fund by Alipay).
• Historically, charging high interest (高利贷, gāolìdài) was stigmatized, but modern banking has normalized regulated interest rates.

Conclusion

"利息" (lìxī) means interest—money earned from savings or paid on loans. Remember: 利 (profit) + 息 (growth) = financial yield over time. Use it when discussing banking, investments, or loans!