spend in small amounts; pocket money
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to spend in small amounts; to spend on miscellaneous items
informalRefers to spending money on small, everyday purchases rather than large expenses.
Zhè这
diǎn点
er儿
qián钱
，
nǐ你
liú留
zhe着
líng零
huā花
ba吧
！
Keep this bit of money for your incidental expenses!
Wǒ我
de的
gōng工
zī资
chú除
le了
jiāo交
fáng房
zū租
，
shèng剩
xià下
de的
jiù就
líng零
huā花
le了
。
After paying the rent from my salary, the rest is spent on small things.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
měi每
gè个
yuè月
dōu都
huì会
liú留
chū出
yī一
xiē些
qián钱
gěi给
jiā家
rén人
líng零
huā花
。
He sets aside some money every month for his family's miscellaneous spending.
noun
pocket money; spending money for small purchases
informalOften used with the retroflex suffix '儿' in Northern Mandarin. Refers to a small amount of money given to someone for daily minor expenses.
Mā妈
ma妈
gěi给
tā他
wǔ五
shí十
kuài块
qián钱
zuò做
líng零
huā花
r儿
。
Mom gave him fifty yuan as pocket money.
Wǒ我
měi每
gè个
xīng星
qī期
yǒu有
èr二
shí十
kuài块
de的
líng零
huā花
。
I get twenty yuan in pocket money every week.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
bǎ把
suǒ所
yǒu有
de的
líng零
huā花
dōu都
zǎn攒
qǐ起
lái来
mǎi买
shū书
le了
。
He saved up all his pocket money to buy books.