补贴

• Pinyin: bǔ tiē
• Hanzi breakdown: 补 = 衤(clothing) + 卜 (phonetic); 贴 = 贝 (money) + 占 (phonetic)

Meaning

Subsidy; allowance; to subsidize. Financial assistance provided by the government, employer, or other organization.

Used for various types of financial support: 政府补贴 (government subsidy), 交通补贴 (transportation allowance), 住房补贴 (housing allowance), 餐费补贴 (meal allowance). Can be used as both noun and verb.

Examples

1. 政府给农民提供农业补贴，帮助他们度过困难时期。 The government provides agricultural subsidies to farmers to help them through difficult times.
2. 公司每月给员工发放交通补贴和餐费补贴。 The company gives employees a monthly transportation allowance and meal allowance.
3. 她用补贴的钱给孩子买了新书包。 She used the subsidy money to buy a new schoolbag for her child.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, workplace, policy

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 这个补贴什么时候发？(When will this subsidy be distributed?)
• 你们公司有住房补贴吗？(Does your company have a housing allowance?)

Don't Say

• 把补贴和工资混为一谈——补贴是额外的福利，不是基本工资的一部分 (Don't confuse 补贴 with salary — 补贴 is an additional benefit, not part of base salary)

Origin & History

Compound of 补 (to supplement) + 贴 (to stick, subsidize), meaning to add money to support.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal