储蓄

• Pinyin: chǔ xù
• Hanzi breakdown: 储 = 亻 (person) + 诸 (various, phonetic) = to store; 蓄 = 艹 (grass) + 畜 (livestock, phonetic) = to accumulate

Meaning

Savings; to save money. The act of depositing money in a bank or the accumulated savings.

Primarily used for formal banking and financial savings. 储蓄账户 (savings account), 储蓄率 (savings rate) are common collocations. More formal than 存钱. Cultural emphasis on savings is strong in Chinese society.

Examples

1. 中国家庭的储蓄率一直保持在较高水平。 Chinese household savings rates have remained at relatively high levels.
2. 她每个月都把一部分工资存入储蓄账户。 She deposits part of her salary into a savings account every month.
3. 年轻人应该养成储蓄的好习惯。 Young people should develop good saving habits.

Usage Guide

Context: banking, finance, personal finance

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这家银行的储蓄利率比较高。(This bank's savings interest rate is relatively high.)
• 适度储蓄是理财的基础。(Moderate saving is the foundation of financial management.)

Don't Say

• 我储蓄了一百块 (For casual amounts, use 存了 — 储蓄 implies systematic, long-term saving)

Origin & History

Compound of 储 (to store) and 蓄 (to accumulate, to save up). Both characters emphasize accumulation over time.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal