配额
pèi'é
The English phrase "quota" is translated into Mandarin as 配额 (pèi'é).
配额 refers to a prescribed number or percentage. It is commonly used in contexts such as trade quotas, import/export quotas or production quotas.
Meaning: prescribed number or percentage (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 配额 is composed of 配 (pèi), meaning to allocate or distribute and 额 (é), meaning an amount or limit.
Which one should you use?
限额 is a formal term for quota.
How do you pronounce it?
pèi'é
Did you know?
- The character 额 in 配额 originally referred to the forehead. In modern Mandarin, it is used for any 'limit' or 'amount' because the forehead represents the top boundary of the face.
- The character 配 in 配额 also appears in the word for 'spouse' 配偶. This stems from the idea of two things being 'matched' or 'allocated' to one another.
- In modern digital contexts, like mobile phone data quotas, the word 流量 (liúliàng), meaning 'flow volume', is often used alongside 'quota' terms.
Examples in context
- 根据配额分配资源。Allocate resources according to the quota.
- 颁发限额给每个参赛者。Issue quotas to each participant.
- 这是你的份额。This is your quota/share.
- 大家都有领取的额度。Everyone has a quota to claim.
- 今年的进口配额已经满了。Jīnnián de jìnkǒu pèi'é yǐjīng mǎn le.This year's import quota is already full.
- 我们需要增加生产配额。Wǒmen xūyào zēngjiā shēngchǎn pèi'é.We need to increase the production quota.
- 每个部门都有自己的配额。Měi gè bùmén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de pèi'é.Every department has its own quota.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a limited supply of raw materials in the office.
- 欣怡 Xinyi志强，原材料的配额够吗？Zhìqiáng, yuáncáiliào de pèi'é gòu ma?Zhiqiang, is the raw material quota enough?
- 志强 Zhiqiang现在的配额非常紧张。Xiànzài de pèi'é fēicháng jǐnzhāng.The current quota is very tight.
- 欣怡 Xinyi那我们该怎么办？Nà wǒmen gāi zěnme bàn?Then what should we do?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我得向经理申请增加配额。Wǒ děi xiàng jīnglǐ shēnqǐng zēngjiā pèi'é.I have to ask the manager to request an increased quota.
