lìxī: 利息 - Interest (monetary)

• Keywords: 利息, lixi, Chinese for interest, bank interest in Chinese, loan interest China, 利息 meaning, learn Chinese finance terms, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 5, savings in China
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 利息 (lìxī), the essential Chinese word for monetary “interest.” This page breaks down how to use 利息 when talking about bank savings, loans, mortgages, and investments in China. Learn the cultural significance of saving, see practical examples, and avoid common mistakes like confusing it with “interest” as a hobby. This is a must-know term for anyone living, working, or doing business in the modern Chinese economy.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lìxī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: 5
• Concise Definition: The money paid for the use of borrowed money or the money earned from deposited funds.
• In a Nutshell: 利息 (lìxī) is the Chinese equivalent of the financial term “interest.” It's the extra money you have to pay back when you take out a loan, and it's also the extra money the bank pays you for keeping your savings with them. It is a neutral, technical term that is fundamental to all financial discussions.

• 利 (lì): This character means “profit,” “benefit,” or “advantage.” Its ancient form depicted a sharp knife harvesting grain, directly symbolizing a gain or harvest.
• 息 (xī): This character means “breath,” “to rest,” or “to cease.” In a financial context, it takes on the meaning of “offspring” or “growth.” Think of interest as the “offspring” that money produces when it is “at rest” in a bank.

When combined, 利息 (lìxī) literally translates to “profit-breath” or “benefit from resting.” It beautifully captures the idea of money generating more money (a benefit/profit) while it sits idle (rests).

While the financial definition of 利息 (lìxī) is nearly identical to the English “interest,” its cultural weight is different, largely due to China's traditionally high savings rate. For generations, thrift and saving for the future (for education, property, retirement, or emergencies) have been deeply ingrained cultural values. Consequently, for many Chinese families, 存款利息 (cúnkuǎn lìxī)—interest earned on savings deposits—is a significant and closely watched aspect of household finance. It represents a tangible reward for prudence and patience. In contrast, while saving is also valued in the West, consumer credit culture is often more dominant. An American might be more likely to think of the 利息 on their credit card or mortgage first. In China, while consumer debt is rapidly increasing, the foundational cultural mindset of saving to earn 利息 remains a powerful force. Understanding this helps explain the national focus on savings rates and investment returns.

利息 (lìxī) is a common and essential word used in a wide range of formal and informal contexts.

• Banking and Finance: This is its primary domain. You will see and hear it constantly when opening a bank account, applying for a loan, or discussing investments. Key phrases include 存款利息 (cúnkuǎn lìxī) for deposit interest and 贷款利息 (dàikuǎn lìxī) for loan interest.
• Real Estate: When discussing mortgages, the term 房贷利息 (fángdài lìxī) (mortgage interest) is unavoidable.
• E-commerce and Fintech: With the rise of platforms like Alipay (支付宝) and WeChat Pay (微信支付), terms like 免息 (miǎnxī) (interest-free) are common marketing tools for installment plans.
• Everyday Conversation: People might informally discuss the low 利息 on their savings or complain about the high 利息 on a loan. The word itself is neutral; the context determines if it's a good or bad thing.

• Example 1:
  • 我把钱存在银行里是为了赚取利息。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ qián cún zài yínháng lǐ shì wèile zhuànqǔ lìxī.
  • English: I deposit money in the bank to earn interest.
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence showing the positive side of 利息 – earning it from savings. 赚取 (zhuànqǔ) means “to earn.”
• Example 2:
  • 这笔贷款的利息太高了，我们负担不起。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bǐ dàikuǎn de lìxī tài gāo le, wǒmen fùdān bù qǐ.
  • English: The interest on this loan is too high; we can't afford it.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative side – the burden of paying interest. 负担不起 (fùdān bù qǐ) is a common way to say “cannot afford.”
• Example 3:
  • 你知道现在银行的活期存款利息是多少吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào xiànzài yínháng de huóqī cúnkuǎn lìxī shì duōshǎo ma?
  • English: Do you know what the current interest on a demand deposit account is?
  • Analysis: A practical question you might ask at a bank. Note the distinction between `利息` (the amount) and `利率` (the rate), though in this context, the question implies asking for the rate.
• Example 4:
  • 买车的时候，他们提供了一个三年免利息的方案。
  • Pinyin: Mǎi chē de shíhou, tāmen tígōng le yí ge sān nián miǎn lìxī de fāng'àn.
  • English: When I bought the car, they offered a three-year interest-free plan.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the common compound word 免息 (miǎnxī), meaning “interest-free,” a huge selling point in consumer sales.
• Example 5:
  • 如果你提前还清房贷，可以节省一大笔利息。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ tíqián huánqīng fángdài, kěyǐ jiéshěng yí dà bǐ lìxī.
  • English: If you pay off your mortgage early, you can save a lot of money on interest.
  • Analysis: This example connects 利息 to long-term financial planning (mortgages). 节省 (jiéshěng) means “to save.”
• Example 6:
  • 我们需要计算一下每个月要支付多少利息。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào jìsuàn yíxià měi ge yuè yào zhīfù duōshǎo lìxī.
  • English: We need to calculate how much interest we have to pay each month.
  • Analysis: Shows the practical action of calculating interest. 支付 (zhīfù) is a formal word for “to pay.”
• Example 7:
  • 高利贷的利息是违法的，你千万不要借。
  • Pinyin: Gāolìdài de lìxī shì wéifǎ de, nǐ qiānwàn búyào jiè.
  • English: The interest from loan sharks (usury) is illegal, you absolutely must not borrow it.
  • Analysis: Introduces the dark side of interest, 高利贷 (gāolìdài), which means “loan sharking” or “usury.”
• Example 8:
  • 这家银行的定期存款利息比那家高一点。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā yínháng de dìngqī cúnkuǎn lìxī bǐ nà jiā gāo yìdiǎn.
  • English: This bank's interest on fixed-term deposits is a little higher than that one's.
  • Analysis: A common comparison someone might make when choosing where to save their money.
• Example 9:
  • 这张信用卡的利息是从你消费的第二天开始计算的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng xìnyòngkǎ de lìxī shì cóng nǐ xiāofèi de dì'èr tiān kāishǐ jìsuàn de.
  • English: The interest on this credit card is calculated starting from the second day after your purchase.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence found in the terms and conditions for a credit card, highlighting its use in modern consumer finance.
• Example 10:
  • 除了本金以外，你还必须偿还所有的利息。
  • Pinyin: Chúle běnjīn yǐwài, nǐ hái bìxū chánghuán suǒyǒu de lìxī.
  • English: Besides the principal, you must also repay all of the interest.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes between 本金 (běnjīn) (principal) and 利息 (lìxī), a key concept in finance.

• “Interest” vs. “Interest” (The False Friend):
  • English uses “interest” for both money (I earn interest) and hobbies (My interest is music). Chinese uses two completely different words.
  • 利息 (lìxī): ONLY for monetary interest.
  • 兴趣 (xìngqù): For hobbies, interests, and personal curiosity.
  • Incorrect: 我的利息是看电影。(Wǒ de lìxī shì kàn diànyǐng.) - This sounds like “My monetary interest is watching movies,” which is nonsense.
  • Correct: 我的兴趣是看电影。(Wǒ de xìngqù shì kàn diànyǐng.) - My interest/hobby is watching movies.
• 利息 (lìxī) vs. 利率 (lìlǜ):
  • Learners often confuse the amount of interest with the interest rate.
  • 利息 (lìxī): The actual amount of money. (e.g., ¥100)
  • 利率 (lìlǜ): The interest rate, the percentage. (e.g., 3%)
  • Example: 银行的利率 (lìlǜ)是3%，所以一年后我能拿到100块的利息 (lìxī)。
  • Translation: The bank's interest rate is 3%, so after one year, I can get 100 yuan in interest.

• 利率 (lìlǜ): The interest rate (the percentage). The direct cause of 利息.
• 本金 (běnjīn): The principal; the original sum of money invested or loaned.
• 贷款 (dàikuǎn): A loan. You pay 利息 on a 贷款.
• 存款 (cúnkuǎn): A savings deposit. You earn 利息 from a 存款.
• 复利 (fùlì): Compound interest. Interest that is calculated on the initial principal and also on the accumulated interest of previous periods.
• 高利贷 (gāolìdài): Usury or loan sharking. An illegally high-interest loan.
• 免息 (miǎnxī): Interest-free. A common promotion for installment plans.
• 还款 (huánkuǎn): To make a repayment (on a loan). This repayment includes both principal and 利息.
• 投资 (tóuzī): Investment. The goal of many investments is to generate returns, which can be thought of as a form of 利息.