接济

• Pinyin: jiē jì
• Hanzi breakdown: 接 = to connect, receive; 济 = 氵(water) + 齐 — to help, aid, originally to cross water

Meaning

To give financial aid; to provide relief. Offering material help to someone in difficulty.

Implies giving money, food, or supplies to someone in need, often relatives or those in hardship. Suggests ongoing or repeated assistance rather than a one-time gift. Carries a sense of generosity and compassion.

Examples

1. 他每个月都会接济老家的亲戚。 He provides financial help to his relatives back home every month.
2. 在那段艰难的日子里，多亏邻居们的接济才熬过来。 During those difficult days, we survived thanks to the neighbors' assistance.
3. 她拿出积蓄接济那些受灾的家庭。 She took out her savings to help those families affected by the disaster.

Usage Guide

Context: family, charity, hardship

Tone: compassionate

Do Say

• 他经常接济有困难的朋友。(He often provides financial help to friends in difficulty.)
• 靠亲戚接济过了最艰难的时期。(We got through the hardest times with relatives' financial support.)

Don't Say

• 用'接济'描述正式捐款 (Don't use 接济 for formal donations — it's more personal; use 捐赠 or 资助 for institutional or formal giving)

Origin & History

Composed of 接 (to receive; to continue) + 济 (to help; to cross over). Together they convey ongoing assistance to those in need.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal