学费
xuéfèi
The English phrase "tuition" is translated into Chinese as 学费 (xuéfèi).
学费 refers to the sum of money paid for instruction. In a common verb phrase, you can use the verb 交 with 学费 to say "to pay tuition" (交学费).
Meaning: sum of money paid for instruction (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 学费 is composed of 学, meaning to study or learn and 费, meaning a fee or expense.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the term for tuition can be expressed as 教育費. In Taiwanese Mandarin, the term for tuition can be rendered as 學雜費 or 學杂費.
How do you pronounce it?
xuéfèi
Did you know?
- In a metaphorical sense, if someone makes a costly mistake or learns a hard lesson through a bad experience, they might say they have 交了学费, meaning they have 'paid the tuition'.
- In historical imperial China, education was often funded by the state or local gentry, so the concept of 学费 as a personal consumer cost is a more modern development.
- The character 费 in 学费 can also be used to describe 'wastage' or 'spending in vain', such as in the phrase 费力 for 'wasting effort'.
Examples in context
- 我工作是为了攒大学学费。I am working to save for my college tuition.This sentence is useful for discussing working to save money for the 「学费」 of college.Tatoeba #1417579 by sadhen, translation #275597 by Dejo
- 今天是交学费的最后一天，我银行卡里没钱了。Today is the last day to pay tuition fees, and my credit card has no money on it.This sentence is useful for discussing the deadline to pay 「学费」.Tatoeba #756889 by eastasiastudent, translation #756890 by eastasiastudent
- 你的学费多少？What is your tuition fee?
- 学费越来越贵了。Tuition is becoming more and more expensive.
- 我觉得学费太贵了！I think tuition fees are too expensive!
- 这学期的学费涨了不少。Zhè xuéqī de xuéfèi zhǎngle bùshǎo.The tuition for this semester has increased a lot.
Example conversation
Wei and Yuting are talking about their university costs.
- 伟 Wei雨婷，你交学费了吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ jiāo xuéfèi le ma?Yuting, have you paid the tuition?
- 雨婷 Yuting我已经交好了。Wǒ yǐjīng jiāo hǎo le.I have already paid it.
- 伟 Wei现在的学费每年都在涨。Xiànzài de xuéfèi měinián dōu zài zhǎng.Tuition is increasing every year now.
- 雨婷 Yuting没错，压力太大了。Méicuò, yālì tài dà le.That's true, the pressure is too great.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
