拨款
bōkuǎn
The English verb 'grant' can be translated into Chinese as 拨款 (bōkuǎn).
拨款 is specifically used for the granting or allocation of money, such as government subsidies, research grants or budget allocations, rather than granting abstract favors or permissions.
Meaning: to bestow or confer, with or without compensation, particularly in answer to prayer or request (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 拨款 consists of 拨 (bō), meaning to allocate or move and 款 (kuǎn), meaning a sum of money or funds.
Which one should you use?
授予 is used to indicate the act of granting someone or something in a formal context, and 准许 is used to express granting permission or allowing someone to do something.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a verb, 拨款 is often used with a specific amount or a target organization, for example, 拨款一百万元 (grant one million yuan) or 向学校拨款 (grant funds to a school).
How do you pronounce it?
bōkuǎn
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might 'grant' a wish, using 拨款 for a prayer would sound as if you are asking a deity to perform a bank wire transfer. For divine responses, one should use 应 (yìng) to say a deity 'responded' to the request.
- The character 拨 (bō) in 拨款 is the same word used to 'dial' a phone number, as both involve the act of shifting or moving a target.
- The character 拨 (bō) implies a physical movement, suggesting that 'granting' funds is the literal shifting of resources from one place to another.
Examples in context
- 授予他这个奖项是为了表彰他的杰出贡献。Granting him this award is to praise his outstanding contributions.
- 我准许你前往参观寺庙。I grant you permission to visit the temple.
- 我允许你加入我们的团队。I grant you permission to join our team.
- 政府已经拨款了一笔资金。Zhèngfǔ yǐjīng bōkuǎn le yī bǐ zījīn.The government has already granted a sum of money.
- 学校每年都会拨款研究经费。Xuéxiào měinián dūhuì bōkuǎn yánjiū jīngfèi.The school grants research funds every year.
- 这笔拨款是专门用于医疗的。Zhè bǐ bōkuǎn shì zhuānmén yòng yú yīliáo de.This grant is specifically for medical use.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a new project budget at the office.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我们的新项目有拨款了吗？Wǒmen de xīn xiàngmù yǒu bōkuǎn le ma?Has our new project been granted funding?
- 梓涵 Zihan公司已经拨款了。Gōngsī yǐjīng bōkuǎn le.The company has already granted it.
- 志强 Zhiqiang太好了，梓涵。Tài hǎo le, Zǐhán.That's great, Zihan.
- 梓涵 Zihan志强，我们可以开始了。Zhìqiáng, wǒmen kěyǐ kāishǐ le.Zhiqiang, we can start now.
