Meanings of 費
By ear
Play it, then pick what 費 means.
About 費
Podcast: 費
Podcast: 費
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 費
花 (huā) vs 支出 (zhīchū) — use 費 (fèi) when emphasizing costs or fees specifically, while 花 (huā) focuses on the act of spending, and 支出 (zhīchū) refers more broadly to expenditures without the nuance of wastefulness.
Common mistakes include confusing 費 with similar-sounding words like 匪 (fěi), which means bandit. This character is mostly used in formal contexts, such as finance or budgeting. Be cautious with the tone; the second tone (fèi) should be pronounced clearly to avoid miscommunication.
Although 費 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other financial terms. Students at this level should focus on learning related words like 费用 (yòng), meaning expenses, to build context in financial discussions.
Learners often confuse 費 with the character for waste (浪费, làngfèi), leading to incorrect sentences like '我没有浪费很多费用' (I didn't waste a lot of expenses), which should be '我没有花很多费用' (I didn't spend a lot of expenses).
Pronunciation of 費
Drill the tone of 費 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 費 to you
Let me explain 費 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 費 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.
How well do you know 費?
Learning Lab
Knowing 費 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Etymology of 費
Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 弗 represents the sound. Simplified form of 費.
money
Origin
費 = 貝 + 弗. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 費
Parts
Which of these is part of 費?
How to say expenses, fees; to cost, to spend; wasteful in Chinese
“expenses, fees; to cost, to spend; wasteful” in Chinese is費
The character 費 (fèi) refers to expenses or fees, often indicating a cost incurred for services or goods. It can also imply spending in a broader sense and carries a nuance of wastefulness when used in certain contexts, suggesting a lack of efficiency or unnecessary expenditure.
When to use 費
Common mistakes include confusing 費 with similar-sounding words like 匪 (fěi), which means bandit. This character is mostly used in formal contexts, such as finance or budgeting. Be cautious with the tone; the second tone (fèi) should be pronounced clearly to avoid miscommunication.
費 or something close to it
花 (huā) vs 支出 (zhīchū) — use 費 (fèi) when emphasizing costs or fees specifically, while 花 (huā) focuses on the act of spending, and 支出 (zhīchū) refers more broadly to expenditures without the nuance of wastefulness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 費 with the character for waste (浪费, làngfèi), leading to incorrect sentences like '我没有浪费很多费用' (I didn't waste a lot of expenses), which should be '我没有花很多费用' (I didn't spend a lot of expenses).
Write 費
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 費 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 費?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.
Word Family of 費
Words with 費
What does 浪费 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 費
Some common phrases include 费用 (yòngfèi), which means expenses, and 学费 (xuéfèi), meaning tuition fees.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 費?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.