索赔

• Pinyin: suǒ péi
• Hanzi breakdown: 索 = 糸 (silk) + 冖 + 十; 赔 = 贝 (shell/money) + 咅 (phonetic)

Meaning

To claim compensation; to demand damages. Formal term for seeking payment for losses.

A legal/business term for demanding compensation for damages, losses, or breach of contract. Used in insurance claims, lawsuits, and commercial disputes. More formal than 要赔偿.

Examples

1. 航班延误超过四小时，乘客可以向航空公司索赔。 If a flight is delayed more than four hours, passengers can claim compensation from the airline.
2. 保险公司正在核实损失情况，索赔流程可能需要两到三周。 The insurance company is verifying the loss situation; the claims process may take two to three weeks.
3. 他们决定通过法律途径向肇事方索赔。 They decided to seek compensation from the responsible party through legal channels.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, insurance, business

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 我要向保险公司索赔。(I'm going to file a claim with the insurance company.)
• 索赔金额超过了一百万。(The claim amount exceeds one million.)

Don't Say

• 对朋友借钱不还说'索赔' (索赔 is for formal compensation — for personal debts, use 要回 or 讨回)

Origin & History

索 means to demand or seek, 赔 means to compensate. Together: to seek compensation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal