金融

jīnróng: 金融 - Finance, Banking

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: jinrong, 金融, finance in Chinese, Chinese word for banking, China finance industry, Chinese economics, HSK 4 vocabulary, learn Chinese finance terms, financial services in China, 金融业
  • Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 金融 (jīnróng), meaning “finance” or “banking.” This page breaks down the characters 金 (gold/money) and 融 (to flow/circulate), explaining how they perfectly describe the world of finance. Discover how 金融 is used in modern China to discuss careers, the economy, and the rapidly growing fintech sector, making it a crucial word for anyone interested in business or current events in China.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jīnróng
  • Part of Speech: Noun (can also be used adjectivally)
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: The field and system concerned with the circulation and management of money, credit, investments, and banking.
  • In a Nutshell: 金融 (jīnróng) refers to “finance” as a large-scale concept or industry. It's not about the cash in your wallet, but rather the entire system that moves money around—think Wall Street, big banks, stock markets, and national economic policy. It's the “macro” of money.

Character Breakdown

  • 金 (jīn): This character originally depicted nuggets of metal. Its primary meaning is gold, but it has been extended to mean metal in general, and more abstractly, money or currency. It's the foundation of the word, representing the asset itself.
  • 融 (róng): This character is a combination of 虫 (chóng, insect/worm) and a phonetic component. Its core meaning is to melt or to fuse, like ice melting into water. By extension, it means to circulate, to blend, or to be in harmony.
  • Together, 金融 (jīnróng) literally translates to “money circulating” or “gold melting and flowing.” This is a remarkably vivid and accurate description of finance: the circulation of capital throughout an economy.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In modern China, 金融 (jīnróng) is a term loaded with significance, tied directly to the nation's narrative of rapid economic development since the “Reform and Opening Up” (改革开放 - gǎigé kāifàng) period. A career in finance is often seen as prestigious and lucrative, symbolizing success in China's new market-oriented economy.
  • A key cultural difference from the West is the heavy influence of the state. While Western finance is often characterized by private, market-driven institutions, the Chinese 金融 system is dominated by massive state-owned banks (like Bank of China or ICBC). The government plays a much more direct role in steering capital, managing risk, and setting financial policy. This reflects a broader cultural value where the state is seen as the primary guardian of economic stability and national prosperity. Understanding 金融 in a Chinese context means understanding this state-capital relationship, which is fundamentally different from the “free market” ideal in the U.S.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 金融 (jīnróng) is a formal and standard term used constantly in news, business, and academic settings.
  • Career and Education: It's common to hear students say they are studying 金融 or that someone works in the 金融业 (jīnróngyè - finance industry).
    • e.g., “我在金融行业工作。” (Wǒ zài jīnróng hángyè gōngzuò.) - “I work in the finance industry.”
  • Economic News: The term is ubiquitous in discussions of the economy. You will frequently encounter collocations like:
    • 金融中心 (jīnróng zhōngxīn): Financial center (e.g., Shanghai).
    • 金融危机 (jīnróng wēijī): Financial crisis.
    • 金融市场 (jīnróng shìchǎng): Financial market.
  • Technology (Fintech): With the rise of Alipay and WeChat Pay, 金融科技 (jīnróng kējì - Fintech) has become a hot topic, showcasing China's innovation in this area.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 他大学学的专业是金融。
    • Pinyin: Tā dàxué xué de zhuānyè shì jīnróng.
    • English: His major in university was finance.
    • Analysis: A very common sentence pattern for discussing education. `专业 (zhuānyè)` means “major” or “specialty.”
  • Example 2:
    • 上海是中国的金融中心。
    • Pinyin: Shànghǎi shì Zhōngguó de jīnróng zhōngxīn.
    • English: Shanghai is China's financial center.
    • Analysis: Here, 金融 acts as an adjective modifying `中心 (zhōngxīn - center)`.
  • Example 3:
    • 2008年的全球金融危机影响了很多国家。
    • Pinyin: Èr líng líng bā nián de quánqiú jīnróng wēijī yǐngxiǎng le hěn duō guójiā.
    • English: The 2008 global financial crisis affected many countries.
    • Analysis: This shows how 金融 is used to talk about major global events. `危机 (wēijī)` means crisis.
  • Example 4:
    • 我对金融投资很感兴趣。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ duì jīnróng tóuzī hěn gǎn xìngqù.
    • English: I'm very interested in financial investment.
    • Analysis: The structure `对…感兴趣 (duì…gǎn xìngqù)` means “to be interested in…”. `投资 (tóuzī)` is “investment.”
  • Example 5:
    • 这家公司提供多种金融服务。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī tígōng duōzhǒng jīnróng fúwù.
    • English: This company provides many kinds of financial services.
    • Analysis: A typical business context. `服务 (fúwù)` means “services.”
  • Example 6:
    • 保持金融稳定是政府的重要任务。
    • Pinyin: Bǎochí jīnróng wěndìng shì zhèngfǔ de zhòngyào rènwù.
    • English: Maintaining financial stability is an important task for the government.
    • Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural importance of stability. `稳定 (wěndìng)` means “stable.”
  • Example 7:
    • 中国的金融科技在世界上处于领先地位。
    • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de jīnróng kējì zài shìjiè shàng chǔyú lǐngxiān dìwèi.
    • English: China's fintech is in a leading position in the world.
    • Analysis: `金融科技 (jīnróng kējì)` is the modern term for “Fintech”.
  • Example 8:
    • 你需要去金融机构申请贷款。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào qù jīnróng jīgòu shēnqǐng dàikuǎn.
    • English: You need to go to a financial institution to apply for a loan.
    • Analysis: `机构 (jīgòu)` means “institution” or “organization.” `贷款 (dàikuǎn)` is “loan.”
  • Example 9:
    • 他每天都关注金融市场的新闻。
    • Pinyin: Tā měitiān dōu guānzhù jīnróng shìchǎng de xīnwén.
    • English: He follows news about the financial market every day.
    • Analysis: `市场 (shìchǎng)` means “market,” and `关注 (guānzhù)` means “to follow” or “to pay close attention to.”
  • Example 10:
    • 金融简单来说，就是关于钱的流动和管理的学问。
    • Pinyin: Jīnróng jiǎndān lái shuō, jiùshì guānyú qián de liúdòng hé guǎnlǐ de xuéwèn.
    • English: Simply put, finance is the study of the flow and management of money.
    • Analysis: A great sentence for defining the term itself. `简单来说 (jiǎndān lái shuō)` means “simply put.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 金融 (jīnróng) vs. 钱 (qián): This is the most common mistake for beginners. 金融 is the abstract system or industry; 钱 (qián) is money you can hold or have in your personal bank account.
    • Incorrect: 我没有金融。 (Wǒ méiyǒu jīnróng.) → “I don't have finance.”
    • Correct: 我没有钱。 (Wǒ méiyǒu qián.) → “I don't have money.”
  • 金融 (jīnróng) vs. 经济 (jīngjì): These two are related but distinct. 金融 (jīnróng) is a *component* of the 经济 (jīngjì - economy). Think of the economy as the entire house, while finance is the plumbing and electrical systems that make it function. Finance is about the circulation of capital, while the economy includes production, consumption, trade, employment, and more.
    • Example: A 金融危机 (financial crisis) can cause an 经济衰退 (economic recession).

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 经济 (jīngjì) - Economy. The broader system of which finance is a critical part.
  • 银行 (yínháng) - Bank. A primary type of financial institution.
  • 投资 (tóuzī) - To invest; investment. A core activity within the financial industry.
  • 贷款 (dàikuǎn) - Loan. A common product offered by financial institutions.
  • 股票 (gǔpiào) - Stock; share. A key instrument in financial markets.
  • 资本 (zīběn) - Capital. The money and assets that the financial system manages and allocates.
  • 财务 (cáiwù) - Financial affairs (of a company or individual); accounting. More focused on management and accounting, whereas 金融 is broader.
  • 保险 (bǎoxiǎn) - Insurance. Another major sector within the broader finance industry.
  • 利率 (lìlǜ) - Interest rate. A fundamental tool in finance and monetary policy.
  • 货币 (huòbì) - Currency; money. The official, formal term for a country's medium of exchange.