钱财

• Pinyin: qián cái
• Hanzi breakdown: 钱 = 钅(metal radical) + 戋 (small/thin — originally a thin coin); 财 = 贝 (shell/valuables) + 才 (talent, phonetic)

Meaning

Money; wealth; riches; pecuniary assets. A literary or emphatic synonym for 钱, often used in moral or formal discourse.

More weighted than plain 钱. Common in proverbs, moral discourse, and formal speech. Frequently appears in phrases such as 钱财乃身外之物 (wealth is external to the self) and in discussions of the relationship between money, virtue, and human values.

Examples

1. 他一贯认为钱财乃身外之物，做人的品德比积累财富更为重要。 He has always believed that money and possessions are things outside the self, and that moral character matters more than accumulating wealth.
2. 骗子利用老人的信任骗取了大量钱财，事后逃之夭夭。 The scammer exploited the elderly person's trust to swindle a large amount of money and valuables, then disappeared without a trace.
3. 慈善家将毕生积累的钱财全部捐献给了教育基金会，令人敬佩。 The philanthropist donated all the wealth accumulated over a lifetime to an education foundation, earning widespread admiration.

Usage Guide

Context: morality, finance, proverbs

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 再多的钱财也买不回失去的健康，因此保持良好的生活方式才是人生最明智的投资。(No amount of wealth can buy back lost health; therefore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the wisest investment in life.)
• 这起经济犯罪案件涉及巨额钱财，检察机关已依法对相关责任人提起公诉。(This economic crime case involves an enormous sum of money, and the procuratorate has filed charges against those responsible in accordance with the law.)

Don't Say

• 我的钱财不多，只有一百元 — 钱财 implies a significant or notable sum; for small amounts use 钱 or 零钱; say 我手头的钱不多 instead

Origin & History

钱 (money/coins) + 财 (wealth/property) — the two synonyms combined for emphasis

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal