透支

• Pinyin: tòu zhī
• Hanzi breakdown: 透 = 辶 + 秀 — to exceed; 支 = 十 + 又 — to pay out

Meaning

To overdraw; to overextend; overdraft; to use up in advance.

Originally a banking term for withdrawing more than the account balance. Now commonly used for overusing health, credit, trust, or any resource. 透支健康 (overextending one's health) is a common expression.

Examples

1. 信用卡透支太多，现在每月光还利息就压力山大。 I've overdrawn my credit card too much — now just paying the interest every month is overwhelming.
2. 连续熬夜加班是在透支健康，迟早要付出代价。 Pulling all-nighters for work is overextending your health — sooner or later you'll pay the price.
3. 他把公司对他的信任都透支光了，以后很难翻身。 He's completely used up the company's trust in him — it'll be hard to recover.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, health, trust

Tone: warning

Do Say

• 透支健康。(To overextend one's health.)
• 透支信用。(To overdraw credit/trust.)

Don't Say

• 把正常消费叫'透支' (透支 implies exceeding limits — normal spending is just 消费 or 花费)

Origin & History

透 means to penetrate/exceed, 支 means to pay out — to pay out beyond the limit.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal