税 shuì taxes
taxes; duties
How to remember 税: 禾 grain + 兑 convert = taxes. The farmer sells his grain at the market, has to convert the coins into bank notes, and half of it goes on taxes.
Component breakdown
税 = 禾 grain + 兑 convert
- 禾 grain
- 兑 convert
The farmer sells his grain at the market, has to convert the coins into bank notes, and half of it goes on taxes.
How it is used
- Bound noun for "tax" - doesn't stand alone as a verb; "to pay tax" is 纳税 (nàshuì, more formal/official) or 交税 (jiāoshuì, more everyday).
- 退税 (tuìshuì) "tax refund/rebate" and 关税 (guānshuì) "customs duty/tariff" are common in shopping and trade contexts.
- 税收 (shuìshōu) "tax revenue" is the term used in economics/government reporting, while 纳税人 (nàshuìrén) is "taxpayer".