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March 24, 2026
财(財)cái(cai2)
The character 财 (cái) refers to money, wealth, and valuables. It is often used in contexts relating to finance and prosperity, such as in discussions about personal wealth, business, and economics. The term conveys the idea of abundance and financial resources.
Strokes7Radical贝Frequency#9672DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of财 (cái) is deeply connected to the idea of prosperity and success, often emphasized in business practices and during celebrations like the Lunar New Year, where wealth is celebrated and sought after.
Memory Tip
Imagine a treasure chest overflowing with gold coins (财), representing wealth. The character itself has elements that suggest value and property, with the radical representing 'wealth' on the left side, hinting at its meaning.
Meanings of 财
cái(cai2)
1money
2wealth
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 财
财Simplified
財Traditional
7Strokes
贝Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9672Frequency Rank
Podcast: 财
Podcast: 财
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AI Study Notes for 财
Quick Contrast
财富 (cáifù) - use 财 (cái) for general terms of money or wealth, while 财富 (cáifù) specifically emphasizes accumulated wealth or fortune.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a treasure chest overflowing with gold coins (财), representing wealth. The character itself has elements that suggest value and property, with the radical representing 'wealth' on the left side, hinting at its meaning.
Usage Notes
When using 财, it is important to differentiate it from similar terms such as 钱 (qián), which specifically means 'money'. Also, be cautious with tones; the incorrect tone could change the meaning entirely. Common collocations include 财产 (cáichǎn, property) and 财富 (cáifù, wealth).
HSK Study Tips
财 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary but is relevant for learners aiming for HSK 4 and above due to its significance in discussions about finance and economics. Students should focus on its use in phrases related to wealth and financial discussions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of财 (cái) is deeply connected to the idea of prosperity and success, often emphasized in business practices and during celebrations like the Lunar New Year, where wealth is celebrated and sought after.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 财 (cái) with 钱 (qián), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, saying '我没有财' (I have no wealth) instead of '我没有钱' (I have no money) can lead to misunderstandings, as 财 indicates a broader concept than just cash.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 财
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Grammar Patterns of 财
财 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
有关____务丑闻的谣言接连不断地冒出来。
Rumours of financial scandals have come bubbling back to the surface.
Common Confusions with 财
财vs才
cái
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
财vs材
cái
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "money"?
or
Example Sentences for 财 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
有关财务丑闻的谣言接连不断地冒出来。
yǒu guān cái wù chǒu wén de yáo yán jiē lián bù duàn dì mào chū lái。
Rumours of financial scandals have come bubbling back to the surface.
The Treasury has long been predicting an upturn in consumer spending.
10
有相当多的人对财政大臣作出的经济会迅猛发展的预测表示怀疑。
yǒu xiāng dāng duō de rén duì cái zhèng dà chén zuò chū de jīng jì huì xùn měng fā zhǎn de yù cè biǎo shì huái yí。
There was considerable scepticism about the Chancellor's forecast of a booming economy.
Cultural Notes for 财
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of财 (cái) is deeply connected to the idea of prosperity and success, often emphasized in business practices and during celebrations like the Lunar New Year, where wealth is celebrated and sought after.
Word Family of 财
Words Containing This Character20
财产cáichǎnproperty財產
财富cáifùwealth財富
财务cáiwùfinancial affairs財務
财政cáizhèngfinancial財政
财cáimoney財
理财lǐcáifinance理財
财宝money and valuables財寶
发财fācáito get rich發財
财经cáijīngfinance and economics財經
财政部Ministry of Finance財政部
钱财qiáncáiwealth錢財
财物cáiwùproperty財物
财力cáilìfinancial resources財力
财团financial group財團
财源financial resources財源
财神god of wealth財神
财税finance and taxation財稅
恭喜发财May you have a prosperous New Year! (New Year's greeting)恭喜發財
财政部长minister of finance財政部長
横财easy money橫財
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 财产 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 财
Common phrases that include 财 (cái) are '财富' (cáifù), which means 'wealth', and '财务' (cáiwù), meaning 'finance.' Understanding these phrases can help you discuss topics related to economics and personal finance more effectively.
In Chinese culture, 财 (cái) symbolizes prosperity and success. It is often associated with good fortune, making it a key concept during celebrations like Chinese New Year, where people wish for wealth and good luck in the coming year.
财 (cái) translates to 'money' or 'wealth' in Chinese. It refers to financial resources, riches, and valuables. In various contexts, it can denote both material wealth and financial assets.
You can use 财 (cái) in sentences like '我很有财' (wǒ hěn yǒu cái), meaning 'I have a lot of money.' It is often used in discussions about finance, wealth, and economic matters.
You can say: '我希望未来能有更多的财富' (I hope to have more wealth in the future).
While primarily related to wealth and money, 财 can also refer to valuable resources or assets in a broader sense.
财 refers to wealth or valuables in a broader sense, while 钱 specifically means money.
