纸币
zhǐbì
Paper money in Chinese is 纸币 (zhǐbì).
纸币 is a term for cash in the form of banknotes. It is used in economic, banking or news contexts to specifically distinguish physical banknotes from digital or electronic currency.
Meaning: cash in the form of banknotes (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 纸币 is composed of 纸 (paper) and 币 (currency/coin).
Which one should you use?
While 纸币 specifically refers to paper banknotes, the term 硬币 (yìngbì) is used to refer to coins.
How do you pronounce it?
zhǐbì
Did you know?
- The world's first government-issued paper money, called 交子 (jiāozǐ), was created in 11th-century China during the Song Dynasty to replace heavy iron coins.
- In the context of traditional Chinese rituals, 'paper money' takes a very different form known as 'joss paper' or 'spirit money'. This is burned to send currency to ancestors in the afterlife and is distinct from the economic 纸币 used in banks.
- The character 币 (bì) in 纸币 evolved from a pictograph of a string of coins, reflecting how ancient coins were stored and carried before paper existed.
Examples in context
- 当更多的纸币投入使用，价格就下跌了。As more paper money came into use, the value fell.This sentence shows how the value of currency changes when more 纸币 enters circulation.Tatoeba #805142 by fucongcong, translation #804362 by Source_VOA
- 由于现在流行电子支付，纸币的使用减少了。Yóuyú xiànzài liúxíng diànzǐ zhīfù, zhǐbì de shǐyòng jiǎnshǎo le.Because electronic payment is popular now, the use of paper money has decreased.
- 这种旧版的纸币已经不能流通了。Zhè zhǒng jiù bǎn de zhǐbì yǐjīng bùnéng liútōng le.This old version of paper money can no longer be circulated.
Example conversation
Junjie and Zihan are paying for a meal at a restaurant.
- 俊杰 Junjie梓涵，你用手机支付吗？Zǐhán, nǐ yòng shǒujī zhīfù ma?Zihan, are you paying with your phone?
- 梓涵 Zihan我不习惯，我习惯用纸币。Wǒ bù xíguàn, wǒ xíguàn yòng zhǐbì.I'm not used to it, I prefer using paper money.
- 俊杰 Junjie但这家店好像只收电子支付。Dàn zhè jiā diàn hǎoxiàng zhǐ shōu diànzǐ zhīfù.But this shop seems to only accept electronic payment.
- 梓涵 Zihan那好吧，这次我用手机付。Nà hǎoba, zhè cì wǒ yòng shǒujī fù.Alright then, I'll pay with my phone this time.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
