存

• Pinyin: cún
• Hanzi breakdown: 存 = 子 (child) + 才 variant, meaning to preserve or keep

Meaning

To save; to store; to deposit; to keep. Refers to putting something away for safekeeping or future use.

Used in financial contexts (存钱 save money, 存款 deposit), digital contexts (存文件 save files), and physical storage (存行李 store luggage). Also means 'to exist' in formal contexts, though 存在 is more common for that meaning.

Examples

1. 我每个月都会存一点钱。 I save a little money every month.
2. 请把行李存在这里。 Please store your luggage here.
3. 别忘了存一下文件，不然可能会丢失。 Don't forget to save the file, otherwise it might be lost.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, digital, everyday

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 我想去银行存一些钱。(I want to go to the bank to deposit some money.)
• 你把照片存在手机里了吗？(Did you save the photos on your phone?)

Don't Say

• 存这个想法在心里 (This sounds unnatural — say 把这个想法记在心里 for 'keep this idea in mind'; 存 is for physical or digital storage, not abstract mental actions)

Origin & History

Left component 子 (child) + right component related to preservation, suggesting keeping something safe as one would protect a child.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal