利息

• Pinyin: lì xī
• Hanzi breakdown: 利 = 禾 (grain) + 刂 (knife) — harvesting grain, hence profit; 息 = 自 (self/nose) + 心 (heart) — breathing, rest, hence growth

Meaning

Interest (on money). The extra amount paid or earned on a loan or savings deposit over time.

Used in financial contexts for both interest earned on savings and interest charged on loans. Common collocations include 付利息 (pay interest), 利息率 (interest rate), 银行利息 (bank interest), and 高利息 (high interest). In everyday conversation, people discuss 利息 when talking about bank deposits, mortgages, and borrowing money.

Examples

1. 这家银行的存款利息比较高。 This bank offers relatively high interest on deposits.
2. 他每个月都要还房贷的利息。 He has to pay the interest on his mortgage every month.
3. 把钱存在银行可以赚一些利息。 Putting money in the bank earns you a bit of interest.

Usage Guide

Context: banking, finance, loans, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 现在银行的利息太低了。(Bank interest rates are too low right now.)
• 借钱要注意利息有多高。(When borrowing money, pay attention to how high the interest is.)

Don't Say

• 我对中文有很大的利息 (Don't confuse 利息 with 兴趣 — 利息 is financial interest on money; 兴趣 is personal interest or hobby)

Origin & History

Composed of 利 (benefit, profit) and 息 (rest, breath — extended to mean growth or increase). Together they refer to the profit that money generates while at rest — the return on deposited or lent funds.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal