财富

• Pinyin: cái fù
• Hanzi breakdown: 财 = 贝 (shell/money) + 才 (phonetic) — wealth; 富 = 宀 (roof) + 畐 (full) — abundant, rich

Meaning

Wealth; fortune; riches. Refers to an abundance of valuable resources or possessions.

Can refer to material wealth (money, assets) or be used figuratively for non-material riches such as knowledge or experience. Common phrases include 精神财富 (spiritual wealth), 社会财富 (social wealth), and 财富自由 (financial freedom). More abstract and broader than 财产, which focuses on specific owned assets.

Examples

1. 健康是人生最大的财富。 Health is the greatest wealth in life.
2. 他通过多年的努力积累了大量财富。 He accumulated a great deal of wealth through years of hard work.
3. 知识和经验也是一种宝贵的财富。 Knowledge and experience are also a kind of precious wealth.

Usage Guide

Context: financial, philosophical, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 真正的财富不只是金钱。(True wealth is not just money.)
• 这个国家的财富在不断增长。(This country's wealth is continuously growing.)

Don't Say

• 用'财富'来描述具体的一笔钱 (Don't use 财富 to describe a specific sum of money — 财富 is abstract and general; say 钱 or 资金 for specific amounts)

Origin & History

财 means 'wealth' and 富 means 'rich' or 'abundant' (宀 roof + 畐 full, depicting a household full of goods). The compound emphasises abundance and prosperity.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal