花费

• Pinyin: huā fèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 花 = 艹 (grass) + 化 (change), meaning flower or spend; 费 = 贝 (shell/money) + 弗 (not), meaning expense

Meaning

To spend; expenditure; expense. Using money, time, or effort on something.

Used for both the verb (to spend) and the noun (expense). Common collocations: 花费时间 (spend time), 花费金钱 (spend money), 生活花费 (living expenses). More formal than 花 alone. Can be used with money, time, energy, or effort.

Examples

1. 这次装修花费了我们半年的积蓄，但效果还是很满意的。 This renovation cost us half a year's savings, but we're quite satisfied with the result.
2. 学一门新语言需要花费大量的时间和精力。 Learning a new language requires spending a lot of time and energy.
3. 你每个月的花费是多少？我们来一起做个预算。 How much do you spend each month? Let's make a budget together.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, time management, everyday

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 这花费太高了。(This expense is too high.)
• 我在这上面花费了很多心血。(I spent a lot of effort on this.)

Don't Say

• 用花费形容免费的事 (Don't use 花费 for things that are free — it implies actual expense or effort)

Origin & History

Compound of 花 (spend, flower) + 费 (cost, expense). 花 originally meant to scatter (like flower petals), extended to spending.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal