抚养费

• Pinyin: fǔ yǎng fèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 抚 = 扌 + 无 (nurture); 养 = 羊 + 食 (raise); 费 = 弗 + 贝 (fee, expense)

Meaning

Child support; maintenance payment; money paid by a non-custodial parent for the upbringing of a child after separation or divorce.

A legal term used in family law and divorce proceedings. The amount is typically determined by the court based on the non-custodial parent's income and the child's needs. Failure to pay can result in legal enforcement.

Examples

1. 法院裁定父亲每月须向孩子支付两千元抚养费。 The court ruled that the father must pay 2,000 yuan in child support each month.
2. 她因前夫长期拒绝支付抚养费而向法院申请强制执行。 Because her ex-husband refused to pay child support for a long time, she applied to the court for compulsory enforcement.
3. 子女年满十八周岁后，非监护方支付抚养费的法律义务一般随之终止。 After a child turns eighteen, the non-custodial parent’s legal obligation to pay child support generally ends.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, family

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 离婚协议中须明确约定抚养费的金额及支付方式。(The divorce agreement must clearly specify the amount and payment method for child support.)
• 如一方拒付抚养费，另一方可依法向法院申请强制执行。(If one party refuses to pay child support, the other may apply to the court for enforcement.)

Don't Say

• 给父母的抚养费 — the legal term for supporting elderly parents is 赡养费; 抚养费 specifically refers to child support

Origin & History

抚养 (to raise a child) + 费 (fee/expense)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal