费

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 费 (fèi) is composed of two parts: the radical 贝 (bèi), which means "money" or "wealth", and the phonetic component 非 (fēi). The radical 贝 indicates that the character is related to money or financial matters, while the phonetic component 非 provides a hint about its pronunciation.The original meaning of 费 was "to spend money" or "to pay a price". In modern Chinese, it has a broader range of meanings, including "to spend", "to consume", "to waste", "to charge a fee", and "to be expensive". For example, the phrase 花费 (huāfèi) means "to spend money", while the phrase 收费 (shōufèi) means "to charge a fee".The character 费 can also be used as a verb meaning "to make an effort" or "to take pains". For example, the phrase 费力 (fèilì) means "to make an effort", while the phrase 费心 (fèixīn) means "to take pains".In addition to its literal meanings, 费 can also be used in a figurative sense. For example, the phrase 费神 (fèishén) means "to worry about something" or "to be concerned about something".The character 费 is a common character in Chinese, and it is used in a wide variety of contexts. By understanding its etymology and its various meanings, HSK learners can better understand the nuances of this character and use it correctly in their own writing and speaking.