língqián

零钱

HSK 7-9Word · NounTraditional零錢

small change; pocket money

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 9 examples
1.

noun

small change; coins and low-denomination banknotes

Specifically refers to money used to make change or for small transactions.

Má麻
fan烦
nín您
 ,
néng能
bǎ把
zhè这
zhāng张
yī一
bǎi百
kuài块
huàn换
chéng成
líng零
qián钱
ma吗
 ?

Excuse me, could you break this hundred-yuan bill into small change?

Zuò坐
gōng公
gòng交
qì车
chē要
yào准
zhǔn备
bèi好
hǎo零
líng钱
 。

You need to prepare small change to take the bus.

Show 1 more example
Wǒ我
qián钱
bāo包
li里
zhǐ只
shèng剩
yī一
xiē些
yìng硬
bì币
líng零
qián钱
le了
 。

I only have some coin change left in my wallet.

2.

noun

pocket money; spending money

Refers to money for personal, minor expenses, especially for children or for discretionary personal spending.

Wǒ我
bù不
chōu抽
yān烟
 ,
yě也
bù不
hē喝
jiǔ酒
 ,
yī一
gè个
yuè月
huā花
bù不
liǎo了
duō多
shǎo少
líng零
qián钱
 。

I don't smoke or drink, so I don't spend much pocket money in a month.

Mā妈
ma妈
měi每
zhōu周
gěi给
wǒ我
wǔ五
shí十
kuài块
dāng当
líng零
huā花
qián钱
 。

My mom gives me fifty kuai a week for pocket money.

Show 1 more example
Tā他
bǎ把
líng零
qián钱
dōu都
zǎn攒
qǐ起
lái来
mǎi买
yóu游
xì戏
le了
 。

He saved up all his pocket money to buy a game.

3.

noun

extra income; incidental earnings

informal

Refers to small, irregular amounts of money earned apart from one's main salary, such as from side jobs, tips, or selling items.

Tā他
zhōu周
mò末
kāi开
wǎng网
yuē约
chē车
 ,
zhuàn赚
diǎn点
líng零
qián钱
 。

He drives for a ride-sharing app on weekends to earn some extra income.

Zhè这
xiē些
gǎo稿
fèi费
jiù就
dāng当
shì是
wǒ我
de的
líng零
qián钱
le了
 。

I'll consider this manuscript fee as my incidental earnings.

Show 1 more example
Zài在
yè夜
shì市
bǎi摆
tān摊
shì是
tā他
zhòng重
yào要
de的
líng零
qián钱
lái来
yuán源
 。

Setting up a stall at the night market is an important source of extra income for him.