免费

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免费 [2025/08/10 11:35] – created xiaoer免费 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== miǎnfèi: 免费 - Free (of charge), Gratis ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** mianfei, 免费, free in Chinese, free of charge, gratis, free trial Chinese, free shipping Chinese, Chinese word for free, learn Chinese, HSK 3 vocabulary +
-  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **免费 (miǎnfèi)**, the essential Chinese word for 'free of charge'. This comprehensive guide explains how to use 免费 for everything from free shipping and trials to free gifts in modern China. Learn the cultural nuances, character origins, and practical examples to avoid common mistakes, like confusing it with 'freedom', and understand when something is truly 'free' in a Chinese context. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** miǎnfèi +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective / Verb +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** To be free of charge; to not require payment. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **免费 (miǎnfèi)** is your go-to word when something costs no money. It's the "free" you see on promotional signs, online checkout pages for shipping, and at the entrance of a park on a special day. It specifically refers to the absence of a fee and is completely unrelated to the concept of freedom or liberty. If you're not paying money for it, it's probably **免费**. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **免 (miǎn):** This character's original form resembled a person taking off a headdress, which evolved to mean "to avoid," "to excuse from," or "to exempt." Think of it as being "excused" from a duty or obligation. +
-  * **费 (fèi):** This character means "fee," "cost," or "expense." It’s composed of 弗 (a phonetic component) and **贝 (bèi)**, the character for "shell." Since shells were used as an early form of currency in ancient China, **贝** is a common component in characters related to money and value. +
-  * By combining these two, **免费 (miǎnfèi)** literally means "to be excused from the fee." This is a very direct and logical construction that perfectly captures the modern meaning of "free of charge." +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-The concept of **免费** is a powerful force in Chinese commerce and daily life, perhaps even more so than in the West. While the Western saying "there's no such thing as a free lunch" also exists in Chinese (天下没有免费的午餐, tiānxià méiyǒu miǎnfèi de wǔcān), the allure of something for free is a cornerstone of modern marketing in China. +
-In the West, a "freebie" might be met with skepticism. In China, it's often an expected and highly effective part of a transaction. For example, receiving a **赠品 (zèngpǐn)**, or a "free gift with purchase," is extremely common and can be the deciding factor for a consumer. The rise of e-commerce has made terms like **包邮 (bāoyóu)**, or "free shipping," a standard expectation. +
-The **免费** model is also the backbone of China's massive digital economy. Many apps, games, and services are free to download and use, following a "freemium" model. They hook users with a **免费** entry point, aiming to later monetize them through in-app purchases, advertisements, or premium subscriptions. So, while something might be **免费** upfront, it's often a strategic move to get you into a larger commercial ecosystem. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-**免费** can function as both an adjective (a free thing) and a verb (to provide for free). It's used everywhere from street markets to sophisticated online platforms. +
-  * **In E-commerce:** You will constantly see **免费送货 (miǎnfèi sònghuò)** or **包邮 (bāoyóu)** for "free shipping." This is a major selling point. +
-  * **In Marketing:** Look for **免费试用 (miǎnfèi shìyòng)** for a "free trial" of a product or service, or **免费品尝 (miǎnfèi pǐncháng)** for a "free tasting" at a food stall. +
-  * **At Venues:** A sign saying **免费入场 (miǎnfèi rùchǎng)** means "free admission" to a park, museum, or event. +
-  * **In Services:** Many businesses offer a **免费咨询 (miǎnfèi zīxún)**, or "free consultation," to attract clients. Hotels and cafés will advertise **免费WiFi (miǎnfèi WiFi)**. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 这家网店所有商品都**免费**送货。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè jiā wǎngdiàn suǒyǒu shāngpǐn dōu **miǎnfèi** sònghuò. +
-    * English: This online store provides free shipping for all its products. +
-    * Analysis: A very common and practical sentence in the age of online shopping. Here, **免费** functions as an adverb modifying the verb "to ship" (送货). +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 你可以先**免费**试用我们的软件三十天。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ xiān **miǎnfèi** shìyòng wǒmen de ruǎnjiàn sānshí tiān. +
-    * English: You can first have a free trial of our software for thirty days. +
-    * Analysis: **免费试用 (miǎnfèi shìyòng)** is a set phrase for "free trial." It's a key term in the software and services industry. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 请问，这个是**免费**的吗？ +
-    * Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhège shì **miǎnfèi** de ma? +
-    * English: Excuse me, is this free? +
-    * Analysis: A fundamental question for any learner. Using **是...的 (shì...de)** turns the adjective **免费** into a noun phrase ("a free one"). +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 今天公园**免费**向公众开放。 +
-    * Pinyin: Jīntiān gōngyuán **miǎnfèi** xiàng gōngzhòng kāifàng. +
-    * English: The park is open to the public for free today. +
-    * Analysis: This shows **免费** used in the context of public access and events. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 我们的酒店为客人提供**免费**早餐。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de jiǔdiàn wèi kèrén tígōng **miǎnfèi** zǎocān. +
-    * English: Our hotel provides free breakfast for guests. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **免费** acts as an adjective describing the breakfast (早餐). +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 买一送一，第二个是**免费**的。 +
-    * Pinyin: Mǎi yī sòng yī, dì èr ge shì **miǎnfèi** de. +
-    * English: Buy one get one free, the second one is free. +
-    * Analysis: This clarifies the common "BOGO" promotion. While the slogan is 买一送一, this sentence explains the logic behind it. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 下载这个App是**免费**的，但是里面有些功能要收费。 +
-    * Pinyin: Xiàzài zhège App shì **miǎnfèi** de, dànshì lǐmiàn yǒuxiē gōngnéng yào shōufèi. +
-    * English: Downloading this app is free, but some features inside require payment. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the "freemium" model and highlights the contrast between **免费** and **收费 (shōufèi)**, "to charge a fee." +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 这里有**免费**的地图可以拿。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhèlǐ yǒu **miǎnfèi** de dìtú kěyǐ ná. +
-    * English: There are free maps here that you can take. +
-    * Analysis: A helpful phrase for tourists. **免费的 (miǎnfèi de)** + Noun is a standard structure. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 对不起，停车不**免费**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, tíngchē bù **miǎnfèi**. +
-    * English: Sorry, parking is not free. +
-    * Analysis: A simple but important negation. **不 (bù)** is placed directly before **免费**. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 记住，天下没有**免费**的午餐。 +
-    * Pinyin: Jìzhù, tiānxià méiyǒu **miǎnfèi** de wǔcān. +
-    * English: Remember, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. +
-    * Analysis: This is a famous proverb, used to remind someone to be wary of things that seem too good to be true. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-The single most important mistake for English speakers to avoid is confusing **免费 (miǎnfèi)** with **自由 (zìyóu)**. They both translate to "free" in English, but they are not interchangeable. +
-  *   **免费 (miǎnfèi):** "Free" as in zero cost; gratis. It's about money. +
-    *   //Correct:// **免费**啤酒 (miǎnfèi píjiǔ) - Free beer. +
-  *   **自由 (zìyóu):** "Free" as in liberty, freedom, unrestricted. It's about rights and lack of constraints. +
-    *   //Correct:// 言论**自由** (yánlùn zìyóu) - Freedom of speech. +
-**Example of a Common Mistake:** +
-  * //Incorrect:// 在美国，我们有**免费**的言论。 (Zài Měiguó, wǒmen yǒu **miǎnfèi** de yánlùn.) +
-  * //Why it's wrong:// This sentence literally means "In the US, we have speech that costs no money," which is nonsensical. +
-  * //Correct:// 在美国，我们有言论**自由**。 (Zài Měiguó, wǒmen yǒu yánlùn **zìyóu**.) +
-Think of it this way: If you can replace "free" with "free of charge" or "gratis" in your English sentence, the correct Chinese word is **免费**. If you can replace it with "liberty" or "freedom," the word is **自由**. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[自由]] (zìyóu) - "Free" in the sense of liberty or freedom. The most crucial term to distinguish from **免费**. +
-  * [[收费]] (shōufèi) - To charge a fee. The direct antonym of **免费**. +
-  * [[优惠]] (yōuhuì) - A discount, special offer, or preferential price. It means cheaper, but not completely free. +
-  * [[打折]] (dǎzhé) - To give a discount. A more specific action related to lowering the price. +
-  * [[赠品]] (zèngpǐn) - A free gift that comes with a purchase. A very common form of **免费** item. +
-  * [[包邮]] (bāoyóu) - A popular e-commerce term meaning "free shipping included." A specific application of **免费**. +
-  * [[试用]] (shìyòng) - To have a trial use. Often paired with **免费** to mean "free trial." +
-  * [[价格]] (jiàgé) - Price. The concept that **免费** negates.+