费用

• Pinyin: fèi yong
• Hanzi breakdown: 费 = 弗 (phonetic) + 贝 (money), meaning expense; 用 = pictograph of a fence/container, meaning to use

Meaning

Cost; expense; fee. The amount of money needed for something.

A general term for costs or expenses. More formal than just 钱. Used in business, travel, medical, and official contexts. Common phrases include 生活费用 (living expenses) and 医疗费用 (medical costs).

Examples

1. 出国旅游的费用比国内旅游高很多。 The cost of travelling abroad is much higher than domestic travel.
2. 这次手术的费用大概要五万块。 The cost of this surgery is about fifty thousand yuan.
3. 公司会报销出差的所有费用。 The company will reimburse all business trip expenses.

Usage Guide

Context: business, travel, medical

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 请问这个课程的费用是多少？(May I ask how much this course costs?)
• 住院费用可以用医保报销。(Hospital costs can be reimbursed by medical insurance.)

Don't Say

• 吃饭的费用是二十块 (In casual settings, don't say 费用 for a simple meal — just say 二十块 or use 花了; 费用 is better for formal or significant expenses)

Origin & History

Compound of 费 (expense, spend) and 用 (use), together meaning the cost of using or consuming something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal