募捐

• Pinyin: mù juān
• Hanzi breakdown: 募 = 莫(dark/extensive, phonetic) + 力(effort/force) — to solicit through effort; 捐 = 手(hand) + 肙(small/empty, phonetic) — to give from one's hands voluntarily

Meaning

To solicit donations; to raise funds through public appeals for charitable or public interest causes.

Used in contexts of charity drives, disaster relief, public welfare campaigns, and institutional fundraising. Carries a positive, altruistic connotation. Common in media reports, official announcements, and NGO communications.

Examples

1. 慈善机构在全国范围内发起了一场为灾区重建募捐的大型公益活动。 The charity launched a large nationwide public campaign to raise donations for rebuilding in the disaster-stricken areas.
2. 学校通过组织义卖活动，成功为贫困山区的孩子们募捐了数十万元的助学资金。 By organizing a charity bazaar, the school successfully raised several hundred thousand yuan in scholarship funds for children in impoverished mountain regions.
3. 这位企业家公开呼吁社会各界积极参与募捐，共同支持这项意义深远的环保项目。 The entrepreneur publicly called on all sectors of society to take part in fundraising and jointly support this far-reaching environmental project.

Usage Guide

Context: charity, disaster relief, public welfare, NGOs

Tone: positive/altruistic

Do Say

• 红十字会已在全国二十余个城市同步启动募捐活动，所得善款将全部用于支援灾区的紧急救援工作。(The Red Cross has simultaneously launched donation drives in more than twenty cities across the country; all funds raised will be used to support emergency relief efforts in the disaster area.)
• 本次募捐活动设有线上和线下两种渠道，方便社会各界人士以不同方式参与公益捐助。(This fundraising campaign provides both online and offline channels, making it convenient for people from all walks of life to participate in charitable giving in different ways.)

Don't Say

• 把'募捐'用于商业融资或投资行为 (募捐 specifically refers to voluntary charitable contributions for public good — use 融资 for commercial fundraising and 募集资金 for investment-related fund-raising)

Origin & History

募(to recruit/solicit) + 捐(to donate/contribute). 募 means to gather people or resources through public appeal; 捐 means to contribute voluntarily.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal