Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== lìlǜ: 利率 - Interest Rate ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 利率, lìlǜ, interest rate in Chinese, Chinese bank interest rate, China loan rate, 贷款利率, 存款利率, PBoC interest rate, learn Chinese finance terms, HSK 5 vocabulary * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese financial term **利率 (lìlǜ)**, which means **interest rate**. This page breaks down the characters, explains its crucial role in the Chinese economy, from personal savings and mortgages to central bank policy, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Understand how to use 利率 (lìlǜ) correctly and avoid common mistakes, such as confusing it with 利息 (lìxī - interest amount). ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** lìlǜ * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** The rate, expressed as a percentage, at which interest is paid or charged. * **In a Nutshell:** **利率 (lìlǜ)** is the price of money. If you borrow money (like a loan), it's the percentage you have to pay on top of the original amount. If you save money (in a bank), it's the percentage the bank pays you as a reward. Think of it as "rent" for using money—either you're paying it or you're earning it. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **利 (lì):** This character means "profit," "benefit," or "advantage." It's composed of 禾 (hé), meaning "grain," and 刀 (dāo), a "knife" or sickle. The image is of harvesting grain with a tool, representing a gain or profit. * **率 (lǜ):** This character means "rate," "ratio," or "proportion." It sets a standard or a measure for something. * When combined, **利率 (lìlǜ)** literally translates to "profit rate" or "benefit rate." This is a very direct and logical construction, referring to the rate at which you gain a monetary benefit (interest) or pay a cost. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **Central Bank Control:** In China, interest rates are a key tool for economic management by the central government and the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行 - Zhōngguó Rénmín Yínháng). Unlike the US Federal Reserve, which influences rates in a market-based system, the PBoC often sets benchmark rates more directly, such as the Loan Prime Rate (LPR, 贷款市场报价利率). Discussions about "cutting rates" (降息 jiàngxī) or "hiking rates" (加息 jiāxī) are common in news reports about managing economic growth. * **High Savings Culture:** China is known for its high national savings rate. Culturally, there's a strong emphasis on thrift, planning for the future, and providing for family (e.g., children's education, retirement). Therefore, the **利率 (lìlǜ)** on savings accounts (`存款 cúnkuǎn`) is a matter of practical concern for almost every household. A small change in the deposit interest rate can significantly impact family savings and financial planning. This makes **利率 (lìlǜ)** a more common topic in everyday conversation than it might be in some Western countries where consumer debt is more normalized. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **Personal Finance:** When talking about mortgages (`房贷 fángdài`), car loans (`车贷 chēdài`), or savings accounts, **利率 (lìlǜ)** is the core term used. People will often compare the **利率** offered by different banks. * **Business and Investment:** In a business context, the **利率** on a corporate loan can determine the feasibility of a new project. For investors, changes in the central bank's benchmark **利率** can signal shifts in the stock market and the value of investment products. * **News and Media:** Financial news is filled with this term. You will hear it constantly in discussions about economic policy, inflation control, and efforts to stimulate or cool down the economy. The connotation is neutral; it's a technical term. The context determines if a high or low rate is good or bad. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 目前银行的存款**利率**是多少？ * Pinyin: Mùqián yínháng de cúnkuǎn **lìlǜ** shì duōshǎo? * English: What is the current bank interest rate for savings deposits? * Analysis: A very common and practical question you might ask at a bank. `目前 (mùqián)` means "at present" or "currently." * **Example 2:** * 这家银行的贷款**利率**太高了，我们换一家吧。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā yínháng de dàikuǎn **lìlǜ** tài gāo le, wǒmen huàn yī jiā ba. * English: This bank's loan interest rate is too high, let's switch to another one. * Analysis: Shows how **利率** is used to make financial decisions. `太高了 (tài gāo le)` means "too high." * **Example 3:** * 为了刺激经济，中央银行决定降低基准**利率**。 * Pinyin: Wèile cìjī jīngjì, zhōngyāng yínháng juédìng jiàngdī jīzhǔn **lìlǜ**. * English: In order to stimulate the economy, the central bank decided to lower the benchmark interest rate. * Analysis: This is a typical sentence from a news report. `基准利率 (jīzhǔn lìlǜ)` means "benchmark interest rate." * **Example 4:** * 你选择的是固定**利率**还是浮动**利率**？ * Pinyin: Nǐ xuǎnzé de shì gùdìng **lìlǜ** háishì fúdòng **lìlǜ**? * English: Did you choose a fixed interest rate or a floating interest rate? * Analysis: This highlights two important related terms: `固定 (gùdìng)` for "fixed" and `浮动 (fúdòng)` for "floating/variable." * **Example 5:** * 如果**利率**继续上升，买房的成本就会更高。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ **lìlǜ** jìxù shàngshēng, mǎifáng de chéngběn jiù huì gèng gāo. * English: If interest rates continue to rise, the cost of buying a house will be even higher. * Analysis: Demonstrates the cause-and-effect relationship between **利率** and real-life costs. `成本 (chéngběn)` means "cost." * **Example 6:** * 我们需要计算一下这笔贷款五年的总利息，**利率**是百分之四。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào jìsuàn yīxià zhè bǐ dàikuǎn wǔ nián de zǒng lìxī, **lìlǜ** shì bǎi fēn zhī sì. * English: We need to calculate the total interest for this five-year loan; the interest rate is four percent. * Analysis: This sentence clearly shows the difference between `利息 (lìxī)` - interest amount, and **利率 (lìlǜ)** - interest rate. `百分之四 (bǎi fēn zhī sì)` is how you say "4 percent." * **Example 7:** * 不同的理财产品有不同的预期年化**利率**。 * Pinyin: Bùtóng de lǐcái chǎnpǐn yǒu bùtóng de yùqī niánhuà **lìlǜ**. * English: Different wealth management products have different expected annualized interest rates. * Analysis: A sophisticated sentence related to investing. `理财产品 (lǐcái chǎnpǐn)` are "wealth management products," very popular in China. * **Example 8:** * 高**利率**可以抑制通货膨胀，但可能会减缓经济增长。 * Pinyin: Gāo **lìlǜ** kěyǐ yìzhì tōnghuò péngzhàng, dàn kěnéng huì jiǎnhuǎn jīngjì zēngzhǎng. * English: High interest rates can curb inflation, but they might slow down economic growth. * Analysis: This demonstrates the macroeconomic trade-offs associated with interest rate policy. `通货膨胀 (tōnghuò péngzhàng)` means "inflation." * **Example 9:** * 他的信用卡**利率**非常高，因为他有不良信用记录。 * Pinyin: Tā de xìnyòngkǎ **lìlǜ** fēicháng gāo, yīnwèi tā yǒu bùliáng xìnyòng jìlù. * English: His credit card's interest rate is very high because he has a bad credit history. * Analysis: Connects **利率** to the concept of personal credit. `信用记录 (xìnyòng jìlù)` is "credit history/record." * **Example 10:** * 在签订合同之前，一定要仔细阅读关于**利率**的条款。 * Pinyin: Zài qiāndìng hétóng zhīqián, yīdìng yào zǐxì yuèdú guānyú **lìlǜ** de tiáokuǎn. * English: Before signing the contract, you must carefully read the clauses regarding the interest rate. * Analysis: Practical advice. `条款 (tiáokuǎn)` are the "clauses" or "terms" in a contract. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **利率 (lìlǜ) vs. 利息 (lìxī):** This is the most critical distinction for learners. * **利率 (lìlǜ)** is the **rate** (the percentage, %). * **利息 (lìxī)** is the **interest** (the actual amount of money, e.g., $100 or 100元). * //Incorrect:// 我的存款**利率**是500元。(My savings interest rate is 500 RMB.) -> This is wrong because a rate is a percentage, not a monetary amount. * //Correct:// 我的存款**利息**是500元。(My savings interest is 500 RMB.) * //Correct:// 我的存款**利率**是2%。(My savings interest rate is 2%.) * **False Friend: "Interest" (the feeling)** * The word **利率 (lìlǜ)** only ever refers to financial interest. It has nothing to do with the feeling of being interested in something. For that, you must use the word **兴趣 (xìngqù)**. * //Incorrect:// 我对历史有很高的**利率**。(I have a high interest rate in history.) -> This sounds absurd in Chinese. * //Correct:// 我对历史有很高的**兴趣**。(I have a great interest in history.) ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[利息]] (lìxī) - The actual amount of money earned or paid in interest. The result of applying the `利率` to a principal amount. * [[贷款]] (dàikuǎn) - A loan. The `利率` is the cost associated with taking out a loan. * [[存款]] (cúnkuǎn) - A savings deposit. You earn `利息` on your deposit based on the bank's `利率`. * [[降息]] (jiàngxī) - To cut or lower interest rates. An important verb related to central bank actions. * [[加息]] (jiāxī) - To raise or hike interest rates. The opposite of `降息`. * [[年利率]] (nián lìlǜ) - Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Specifies the rate for a full year. * [[固定利率]] (gùdìng lìlǜ) - Fixed interest rate. A rate that does not change over the life of the loan. * [[浮动利率]] (fúdòng lìlǜ) - Floating/variable interest rate. A rate that can change over time. * [[中国人民银行]] (zhōngguó rénmín yínháng) - The People's Bank of China (PBoC), the central bank responsible for setting monetary policy and key `利率` in China. * [[高利贷]] (gāolìdài) - Usury; a loan with an extremely high, often illegal, interest rate. Literally "high-interest loan."