黄金

• Pinyin: huáng jīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 黄 = character depicting the colour yellow; 金 = pictograph showing nuggets of metal buried under the earth — metal or gold

Meaning

Gold. The precious metal, or figuratively something of the highest value or quality.

Used both literally for the precious metal and figuratively for anything of great value. Common collocations include 黄金时代 (golden age), 黄金时间 (prime time), 黄金地段 (prime location), and 黄金价格 (gold price). An important concept in Chinese culture and economics.

Examples

1. 最近黄金的价格涨了不少。 The price of gold has risen quite a lot recently.
2. 这个地段是商业黄金地带。 This area is a prime commercial zone.
3. 奶奶把自己的黄金首饰留给了妈妈。 Grandma left her gold jewellery to Mum.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, culture, everyday

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 你觉得现在买黄金合适吗？(Do you think it's a good time to buy gold?)
• 晚上八点到十点是电视的黄金时间。(8pm to 10pm is prime time for television.)

Don't Say

• 这个东西是黄金做的颜色 (Don't confuse 黄金 the material with 金色 the colour — use 金色 for 'gold-coloured' and 黄金 for actual gold)

Origin & History

黄 (huáng, yellow) + 金 (jīn, metal/gold) — literally 'yellow metal,' the most recognisable description of gold.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal