Keywords: fùchū, 付出, meaning of fuchu, Chinese word for effort, put in effort Chinese, to pay out, to invest time, to sacrifice in Chinese, Chinese culture, hard work, relationships
Summary: The Chinese word 付出 (fùchū) means more than just “to pay”; it signifies a deep investment of non-material resources like effort, time, love, or even sacrifice. Understanding fùchū is key to grasping Chinese cultural values around hard work, relationships, and dedication. This entry breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use, helping you understand when to use 付出 instead of simply “spend” or “pay,” especially in the context of achieving goals or nurturing relationships.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): fùchū
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: To expend effort, time, or other valuable resources; to pay out; to give of oneself.
In a Nutshell: Think of “付出” as “giving out” something valuable from within yourself. It's not about a simple cash transaction. It’s about the heart, sweat, and time you invest in a project, a person, or a dream. It carries a sense of earnestness and personal cost, highlighting the virtue of dedication.
Character Breakdown
付 (fù): This character means “to pay” or “to hand over.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and an ancient character (寸) representing a hand on the right. Together, they depict a person handing something over.
出 (chū): This character means “to go out” or “to emerge.” It's a pictograph of a plant sprout (止) emerging from the ground (凵).
Together, 付出 (fùchū) literally means “to pay out” or “to hand over out.” This combination powerfully conveys the idea of expending resources from your personal store, whether that's energy, emotion, or time.
Cultural Context and Significance
付出 is a cornerstone concept in Chinese culture, reflecting a deep-seated belief in the value of hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice. It's the engine behind the famous saying, “吃苦” (chī kǔ - to eat bitterness), the idea that enduring hardship now will lead to a better future.
Comparison to “Investing”: In Western culture, we often talk about “investing” time or “putting in” effort. While similar, “investing” often implies a calculated action with an expected Return on Investment (ROI). 付出, however, has a stronger connotation of selflessness and sacrifice. It's often done for the benefit of a collective—the family, the company, or the relationship—rather than for purely individual gain. For example, parents' 付出 for their children is seen not as an investment to be recouped, but as a natural and virtuous act of love and duty. This ties into the collectivistic nature of Chinese society, where contributing to the group's well-being is highly valued.
Practical Usage in Modern China
In Relationships: This is one of the most common contexts for 付出. It's used to describe the effort, love, and compromise one puts into a romantic relationship or friendship. A common source of conflict is one person feeling their 付出 is not being reciprocated.
In Work and Studies:付出 is frequently used to describe the hard work and long hours required for success. A boss might praise an employee for their 付出, or a student might reflect on the 付出 needed to pass an exam. The common phrase is 付出努力 (fùchū nǔlì) - to expend effort.
In Family Life: The concept of parental 付出 is immense. It refers to the lifelong sacrifices parents make for their children's well-being and future, from paying for education to providing emotional support.
Connotation: The word is almost always positive or neutral. It highlights a virtue. It only becomes negative when used in a complaint about unreciprocated effort (e.g., “My付出 was for nothing!”).
Example Sentences
Example 1:
成功需要付出努力和时间。
Pinyin: Chénggōng xūyào fùchū nǔlì hé shíjiān.
English: Success requires expending effort and time.
Analysis: A classic example linking 付出 directly with the necessary ingredients for success. This is a very common and encouraging phrase.
Example 2:
父母为我们付出了太多。
Pinyin: Fùmǔ wèi wǒmen fùchūle tài duō.
English: Parents have given so much for us.
Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural value of filial piety and recognizing parental sacrifice. 付出 here implies a deep, long-term, and selfless giving.
Analysis: Here, 付出 conveys a profound emotional investment. It's not just time or effort, but one's entire heart and being. This often has a slightly tragic or dramatic tone.
English: As long as you are willing to put in the effort, there will definitely be a reward.
Analysis: This is a highly motivational sentence, encapsulating the belief that hard work pays off. 回报 (huíbào), meaning “return” or “reward,” is the common counterpart to 付出.
Example 5:
他为了这个项目付出了大量心血。
Pinyin: Tā wèile zhège xiàngmù fùchūle dàliàng xīnxuè.
English: He poured a tremendous amount of heart and soul into this project.
Analysis: The phrase 心血 (xīnxuè) literally means “heart's blood” and refers to painstaking effort. Paired with 付出, it emphasizes an extreme level of dedication.
English: The athletes shed sweat and tears for the victory.
Analysis: This sentence uses concrete things (sweat, tears) to represent the abstract concept of effort and sacrifice that was 付出 (paid out).
Example 7:
你愿意为你的梦想付出什么代价？
Pinyin: Nǐ yuànyì wèi nǐ de mèngxiǎng fùchū shénme dàijià?
English: What price are you willing to pay for your dream?
Analysis: Here, 付出 is paired with 代价 (dàijià), which means “price” or “cost” (often in a negative or sacrificial sense). This phrase directly asks about the level of sacrifice one is willing to make.
Example 8:
我所有的付出都白费了。
Pinyin: Wǒ suǒyǒu de fùchū dōu báifèi le.
English: All of my efforts were in vain.
Analysis: This shows the negative context. 付出 itself isn't negative, but here it's the subject of a complaint. 白费了 (báifèi le) means “wasted” or “for nothing.”
Example 9:
爱情是双方的付出，而不是单方面的索取。
Pinyin: Àiqíng shì shuāngfāng de fùchū, ér bùshì dānfāngmiàn de suǒqǔ.
English: Love is the mutual investment of both parties, not the one-sided taking.
Analysis: This sentence highlights the ideal of reciprocity in relationships. It contrasts 付出 (giving) with 索取 (suǒqǔ - to demand/take).
Example 10:
感谢您为公司的付出和贡献。
Pinyin: Gǎnxiè nín wèi gōngsī de fùchū hé gòngxiàn.
English: Thank you for your hard work and contributions to the company.
Analysis: A formal sentence you might hear in a corporate setting. It pairs 付出 with 贡献 (gòngxiàn - contribution) to formally praise an employee's dedication.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
付出 (fùchū) vs. 花 (huā): This is the most common point of confusion.
Use 花 (huā) for the neutral act of spending time or money.
Correct: 我花了两个小时看电影。(Wǒ huāle liǎng gè xiǎoshí kàn diànyǐng.) - I spent two hours watching a movie.
Correct: 我花了三百块买这件衣服。(Wǒ huāle sānbǎi kuài mǎi zhè jiàn yīfú.) - I spent 300 yuan on these clothes.
Use 付出 (fùchū) when you want to emphasize the effort, sacrifice, or large scale of the investment.
Correct: 我为这个考试付出了很多时间。(Wǒ wèi zhège kǎoshì fùchūle hěn duō shíjiān.) - I expended a lot of time for this exam. (Implies hard work, not just passive spending of time).
Incorrect: 我付出了三百块买这件衣服。 This sounds overly dramatic, as if buying clothes was a great sacrifice.
False Friend: “To Pay”: Do not use 付出 for simple commercial transactions. To pay for coffee, you would use 付钱 (fù qián - to pay money) or just 付 (fù). 付出 is closer to the English metaphorical phrases “to pay the price,” “to pay your dues,” or “to give your all.”
Related Terms and Concepts
努力 (nǔlì) - To make an effort; to strive. A very common word that often describes what is being 付出. The phrase 付出努力 (to expend effort) is a key collocation.
牺牲 (xīshēng) - To sacrifice. This is a stronger form of 付出, often implying giving something up completely for a greater cause.
贡献 (gòngxiàn) - To contribute; contribution. More formal than 付出, often used when talking about contributions to society, a company, or a scientific field.
回报 (huíbào) - Return; reward. This is what you hope to get from your 付出. The two words are often used together to discuss the relationship between effort and outcome.
代价 (dàijià) - Price; cost. Refers to what must be given up or sacrificed to achieve a goal. Often paired with 付出 as in 付出代价 (to pay the price).
投资 (tóuzī) - To invest. While it can be used metaphorically like 付出, it is primarily a financial term and often carries a stronger expectation of a tangible return.
花钱 (huā qián) - To spend money. The simple, everyday term for spending money that lacks the deep, sacrificial meaning of 付出.
花时间 (huā shíjiān) - To spend time. The neutral term for spending time, contrasted with 付出时间 which implies dedicated, effortful time.