Understanding "关税" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 关税
• Pinyin: guān shuì
• Literal Meaning: customs tax / barrier tax
• Primary Meaning: tariff; customs duty (a tax charged on goods when they cross a national border, usually on imports and sometimes on exports)

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage: 关税 is the standard modern word for a tariff or customs duty. You will see it in news about trade policy, business discussions about import costs, customs paperwork, and economic analysis. It is a formal, neutral term—neither slang nor emotional. In everyday speech, people may also say 进口税 (import tax) when they specifically mean a tax on imported goods, but 关税 is the broader and more official term used in law, media, and trade. It often appears with verbs such as 征收 (levy/collect), 提高 (raise), 降低 (lower), and 减免 (reduce or exempt).
• Character Breakdown:
• 关 (guān): In this word, 关 refers to a pass, checkpoint, or customs barrier—the place where goods and people are checked when entering or leaving a country. On its own, 关 can also mean “to close,” “a pass,” or “to concern,” but here the customs/checkpoint sense is the relevant one.
• 税 (shuì): This character means “tax.” It appears in many tax-related words, such as 税收 (tax revenue) and 税率 (tax rate).
• Together, 关 + 税 literally suggests “the tax collected at the customs barrier,” which is exactly what a tariff is.

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 政府决定提高部分进口商品的关税。
• Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ juédìng tígāo bùfen jìnkǒu shāngpǐn de guānshuì.

• English: The government decided to raise tariffs on some imported goods.

• Chinese: 高关税会增加消费者的购物成本。

• Pinyin: Gāo guānshuì huì zēngjiā xiāofèizhě de gòuwù chéngběn.

• English: High tariffs will increase shopping costs for consumers.

• Chinese: 这家公司正在申请关税减免。

• Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zhèngzài shēnqǐng guānshuì jiǎnmiǎn.
• English: This company is applying for a tariff reduction or exemption.

Cultural Notes (if applicable)

In Chinese news and public discussion, 关税 often appears in stories about international trade, trade disputes, and the cost of imported products. Because China is a major trading nation, learners will frequently encounter this word in economic headlines. Historically, customs duties were collected at ports and border passes; the character 关 still carries that older sense of a checkpoint or strategic pass (as in 山海关, Shanhai Pass). In modern usage, though, 关税 is simply the everyday official term for a tariff—not a poetic or historical expression.

Conclusion

关税 (guān shuì) means “tariff” or “customs duty.” Remember it as 关 (customs barrier) + 税 (tax): the tax charged when goods cross the border. It is the word you need for trade news, import costs, and formal discussions of customs policy.

Sources and Further Reading

• MDBG Chinese Dictionary: 关税
• Wiktionary: 关税
• HSK vocabulary reference dataset

Dictionary links are provided for independent reference. Example sentences and learning notes on this page are educational explanations rather than dictionary quotations.