shōurù: 收入 - Income, Revenue, Earnings

• Keywords: 收入 pinyin, 收入 meaning, shouru meaning, how to say income in Chinese, Chinese word for salary, earnings in Chinese, revenue in Chinese, shouru vs gongzi, Chinese financial terms, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “income” or “revenue” in Chinese with the word 收入 (shōurù). This essential HSK 4 term is used to discuss personal earnings, company revenue, and overall financial well-being in China. Discover the crucial difference between 收入 (shōurù) and 工资 (gōngzī), see practical example sentences, and understand its cultural significance in modern Chinese society. This guide is perfect for beginners wanting to talk about money, work, and finances in Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shōurù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: The money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments; income or revenue.
• In a Nutshell: 收入 (shōurù) is your total “in-come”—all the money that comes *in* to you or a company. It's a broad, all-encompassing term that can include your salary, a bonus, money from a side-hustle, rental income, or a company's total sales. Think of it as the big-picture financial intake before you subtract any expenses.

• 收 (shōu): This character means “to receive,” “to collect,” or “to accept.” Think of a hand reaching out to receive payment or collecting items into a box.
• 入 (rù): This character means “to enter” or “to go in.” The character itself is a pictograph of a wedge or a pointed shape entering a space, like a key entering a lock or someone walking through a doorway.
• Together, 收 (shōu) + 入 (rù) literally means “receive-enter.” This beautifully captures the core concept of money or funds “entering” one's possession or a company's accounts. It's the total amount that comes in.

In Chinese culture, 收入 (shōurù) is far more than just a number; it is a key indicator of stability, capability, and social standing. Financial security is deeply valued, often seen as a prerequisite for starting a family and fulfilling one's filial duties. A significant cultural difference lies in the openness of discussion. While in many Western cultures, asking about someone's specific salary is a social taboo, in China it can be a more practical and direct topic, especially among close friends, family, or in the context of dating and marriage. A person's 收入 is often viewed as a practical measure of their ability to provide for a family and build a secure future. A “high 收入” (高收入 gāo shōurù) can significantly contribute to one's “face” or social prestige (面子 miànzi), signaling success and competence to the community.

收入 is a versatile and neutral term used in various contexts, from casual conversations about work to formal economic reports.

• Personal Finance: This is the most common usage. People use it to talk about their monthly or yearly income. For example, “我的收入还不错” (Wǒ de shōurù hái búcuò) - “My income is pretty good.”
• Business and Economics: In a business context, 收入 refers to a company's “revenue.” You'll see it in financial statements and news reports, e.g., “公司去年的总收入” (gōngsī qùnián de zǒng shōurù) - “the company's total revenue last year.”
• Dating and Relationships: It's very common to hear 收入 discussed as a practical factor in relationships. A “stable income” (稳定的收入 wěndìng de shōurù) is a highly desirable trait in a potential partner.

• Example 1:
  • 我对现在这份工作的收入很满意。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ duì xiànzài zhè fèn gōngzuò de shōurù hěn mǎnyì.
  • English: I am very satisfied with the income from my current job.
  • Analysis: A common way to express satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with one's earnings. This is a very natural, everyday sentence.
• Example 2:
  • 他的年收入超过了一百万人民币。
  • Pinyin: Tā de nián shōurù chāoguò le yì bǎi wàn rénmínbì.
  • English: His annual income exceeds one million RMB.
  • Analysis: Note the use of 年收入 (nián shōurù) for “annual income,” a very common compound.
• Example 3:
  • 稳定的收入是申请贷款的重要条件。
  • Pinyin: Wěndìng de shōurù shì shēnqǐng dàikuǎn de zhòngyào tiáojiàn.
  • English: A stable income is an important condition for applying for a loan.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the practical importance of 收入 in formal financial situations.
• Example 4:
  • 除了工资，我还有一些别的收入来源。
  • Pinyin: Chúle gōngzī, wǒ háiyǒu yìxiē biéde shōurù láiyuán.
  • English: Besides my salary, I also have some other sources of income.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the difference between 工资 (gōngzī) and 收入 (shōurù). The salary is just one part of the total income.
• Example 5:
  • 这家公司去年的总收入达到了一个新的高度。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī qùnián de zǒng shōurù dádào le yí gè xīn de gāodù.
  • English: This company's total revenue reached a new high last year.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of 收入 in a business context to mean “revenue.”
• Example 6:
  • 你每个月的收入大概有多少？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měi ge yuè de shōurù dàgài yǒu duōshǎo?
  • English: Approximately how much is your monthly income?
  • Analysis: A direct but common question among friends or in situations where financial details are relevant. The word 大概 (dàgài), meaning “approximately,” softens the question slightly.
• Example 7:
  • 高收入人群需要缴纳更多的个人所得税。
  • Pinyin: Gāo shōurù rénqún xūyào jiǎonà gèng duō de gèrén suǒdéshuì.
  • English: High-income groups need to pay more personal income tax.
  • Analysis: This shows a more formal, economic usage. 个人所得税 (gèrén suǒdéshuì) is “personal income tax.”
• Example 8:
  • 她希望找一个收入比她高的男朋友。
  • Pinyin: Tā xīwàng zhǎo yí gè shōurù bǐ tā gāo de nánpéngyou.
  • English: She hopes to find a boyfriend whose income is higher than hers.
  • Analysis: This reflects a common, traditional viewpoint in dating and marriage in China.
• Example 9:
  • 增加非工资性收入是实现财务自由的关键。
  • Pinyin: Zēngjiā fēi gōngzī xìng shōurù shì shíxiàn cáiwù zìyóu de guānjiàn.
  • English: Increasing non-wage income is the key to achieving financial freedom.
  • Analysis: A modern finance concept. 非工资性收入 (fēi gōngzī xìng shōurù) refers to income from sources other than a salary, like investments or a side business.
• Example 10:
  • 他的收入不稳定，有时候高，有时候低。
  • Pinyin: Tā de shōurù bù wěndìng, yǒushíhou gāo, yǒushíhou dī.
  • English: His income is unstable; sometimes it's high, sometimes it's low.
  • Analysis: This describes the income of someone who might be a freelancer, a commission-based salesperson, or a small business owner.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 收入 (shōurù) with 工资 (gōngzī).

• 收入 (shōurù): Total Income / Revenue. It's the big bucket. It includes everything: salary, bonus, investment returns, rental income, etc. It can apply to a person OR a company.
• 工资 (gōngzī): Salary / Wages. It's the specific, fixed amount your employer pays you for your job, usually on a monthly basis. It only applies to an individual's employment.

Your salary (工资) is part of your total income (收入). Incorrect Usage:

• Wrong: ~~我的公司这个月的工资很高。~~ (Wǒ de gōngsī zhège yuè de gōngzī hěn gāo.)
• Why it's wrong: A company doesn't have a “salary”; it has revenue. 工资 is for people.
• Correct: 我的公司这个月的收入很高。 (Wǒ de gōngsī zhège yuè de shōurù hěn gāo.) - “My company's revenue this month is very high.”

False Friend Alert: While 收入 can mean “revenue,” be careful. In English, “revenue” is almost exclusively used for businesses. You wouldn't say “my personal revenue.” But in Chinese, “我的个人收入” (wǒ de gèrén shōurù) is perfectly normal and just means “my personal income.”

• 工资 (gōngzī) - Salary/Wages. A specific component of 收入. The most important related term to distinguish.
• 薪水 (xīnshuǐ) - Salary. A close synonym for 工资, sometimes considered slightly more formal or literary.
• 奖金 (jiǎngjīn) - Bonus. A payment received in addition to one's regular salary; another component of 收入.
• 利润 (lìrùn) - Profit. The amount of money left after subtracting costs from revenue (收入 - 成本). A key business term.
• 支出 (zhīchū) - Expenditure/Expenses. The direct antonym of 收入. What goes out vs. what comes in.
• 赚钱 (zhuànqián) - To earn money / make money. This is the verb action; 收入 is the noun result of that action.
• 可支配收入 (kě zhīpèi shōurù) - Disposable income. A specific economic term for the income remaining after deduction of taxes and social security charges.
• 营业额 (yíngyè'é) - Turnover / Volume of business. A synonym for a company's 收入, often used in formal business reports.