筹码

• Pinyin: chóu mǎ
• Hanzi breakdown: 筹 = ⺮ (bamboo) + 寿 (phonetic) = chip; 码 = 石 (stone) + 马 (horse, phonetic) = counter

Meaning

Chip; counter; bargaining chip; leverage.

Originally casino chips or game counters. Extended metaphorically to mean anything used as leverage in negotiations or competitions. Common in business and political discourse.

Examples

1. 在谈判中，价格是我们最重要的筹码。 In negotiations, price is our most important bargaining chip.
2. 他手里没有什么筹码，只能接受对方的条件。 He has no leverage, so he can only accept the other party's terms.
3. 专业技能是职场竞争中最有力的筹码。 Professional skills are the most powerful chips in workplace competition.

Usage Guide

Context: negotiation, business, gambling

Tone: strategic

Do Say

• 掌握核心技术就是最大的筹码。(Mastering core technology is the biggest bargaining chip.)
• 她把这个秘密当作要挟对方的筹码。(She used this secret as leverage to threaten the other party.)

Don't Say

• 我买了筹码 (In literal gambling context, say 换筹码 for exchanging chips)

Origin & History

Compound of 筹 (counting stick/chip) and 码 (counter/number). Originally referred to gambling chips.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal