津贴

• Pinyin: jīn tiē
• Hanzi breakdown: 津 = 氵+ 聿 — ford, ferry, wages; 贴 = 贝 + 占 — to subsidize, to paste

Meaning

Allowance; subsidy; stipend. Additional payment beyond regular salary for specific purposes.

Common types include housing allowance, transportation allowance, meal allowance, and hardship allowance. An important part of compensation packages in China. Different from bonuses in that allowances are typically regular and tied to specific expenses.

Examples

1. 公司除了基本工资外，还提供住房津贴和交通津贴。 In addition to base salary, the company also provides housing and transportation allowances.
2. 在偏远地区工作的员工可以享受额外的艰苦津贴。 Employees working in remote areas can receive additional hardship allowances.
3. 政府为低收入家庭发放了生活津贴，帮助他们渡过难关。 The government distributed living subsidies to low-income families to help them through difficult times.

Usage Guide

Context: employment, government, finance

Tone: official

Do Say

• 这份工作有住房津贴吗？(Does this job include a housing allowance?)
• 津贴不算在基本工资里面。(Allowances are not included in the base salary.)

Don't Say

• 把'津贴'和'奖金'混为一谈 (Don't confuse 津贴 with 奖金 — 津贴 is a regular allowance for specific expenses; 奖金 is a performance bonus)

Origin & History

Composed of 津 (ferry; crossing point; wages for ferry workers) + 贴 (to subsidize; to stick). Originally referred to payment for ferry workers, now means supplementary payment.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Working professionals