cúnkuǎn: 存款 - Savings, Deposit (money)

• Keywords: 存款, cunkuan, what does cunkuan mean, Chinese for savings, Chinese for bank deposit, saving money in China, open a bank account in China, Chinese personal finance, 存, 款, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: 存款 (cúnkuǎn) is a fundamental Chinese term meaning 'savings' or 'bank deposit'. This page explores its meaning, from the characters 存 (to save) and 款 (sum of money), to its deep cultural significance in China where saving is highly valued. Learn how to use 存款 in everyday conversations about personal finance, banking, and future planning, with practical examples and cultural insights for learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): cúnkuǎn
• Part of Speech: Noun; Verb-Object Compound
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A sum of money placed or kept in a bank account; the act of depositing money.
• In a Nutshell: 存款 literally means “to store a sum of money.” It refers to your savings—the actual money you have in the bank. Unlike the English word “savings,” which can sometimes feel abstract, 存款 is a very concrete term in Chinese, often discussed in practical terms of financial security and future planning. It can be used as a noun (“my savings”) or as a verb phrase (“to deposit money”).

• 存 (cún): This character means “to exist,” “to store,” or “to save.” A helpful way to remember it is to see it as preserving something important for later. It carries a sense of security and keeping something safe.
• 款 (kuǎn): This character means “a sum of money,” “funds,” or “payment.” While it has other meanings like “style,” in financial contexts, it almost always refers to money.
• Together, 存 (to save/store) + 款 (money) create a very logical and transparent word: “saved money” or the action of “saving money.”

In Chinese culture, having a healthy amount of 存款 is more than just good financial planning; it's a cornerstone of personal and familial responsibility. The traditional value of 节俭 (jiéjiǎn) - thrift or frugality - is deeply ingrained in society. Saving money is seen as a primary virtue, demonstrating foresight, stability, and care for one's family. This contrasts significantly with the credit-heavy culture prevalent in many Western countries. While an American might discuss leveraging debt or investing in the stock market as a primary path to wealth, the traditional Chinese approach prioritizes building a solid foundation of cash savings first. This emphasis on 存款 stems from a history where social safety nets were less comprehensive. Savings were the only reliable buffer for major life events: buying a home, paying for a child's education, covering medical emergencies, or ensuring a comfortable retirement. Even in modern China with its growing economy, this mindset persists. A significant 存款 provides not just financial freedom, but immense psychological security (安全感 - ānquángǎn).

You will encounter 存款 most frequently in contexts related to personal finance and banking.

• As a Noun: When used as a noun, it means “savings” or “a deposit.”
  • `我的存款` (wǒ de cúnkuǎn) - My savings.
  • `定期存款` (dìngqī cúnkuǎn) - A fixed-term deposit.
• As a Verb-Object Phrase: This is a key point for learners. 存款 can function as a single unit meaning “to deposit money.” The characters are 存 (verb: to deposit) + 款 (object: money). You do not need to add another word for money like `钱 (qián)`.
  • Correct: 我要去银行存款。(Wǒ yào qù yínháng cúnkuǎn.) - I need to go to the bank to deposit money.
  • Incorrect: 我要去银行存款钱。(Wǒ yào qù yínháng cúnkuǎn qián.)

This structure is common in banking, where you also have the opposite action: 取款 (qǔkuǎn) - to withdraw money.

• Example 1:
  • 我的存款不多，买不起那么贵的车。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de cúnkuǎn bù duō, mǎi bù qǐ nàme guì de chē.
  • English: My savings aren't much, I can't afford such an expensive car.
  • Analysis: A classic use of 存款 as a noun (“savings”). This sentence reflects a practical, common reason for discussing one's savings.
• Example 2:
  • 下午我要去银行存款。
  • Pinyin: Xiàwǔ wǒ yào qù yínháng cúnkuǎn.
  • English: I need to go to the bank to deposit money this afternoon.
  • Analysis: Here, 存款 is used as a verb-object phrase. It's a complete action: “to deposit money.”
• Example 3:
  • 请问，这是活期存款还是定期存款？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhè shì huóqī cúnkuǎn háishì dìngqī cúnkuǎn?
  • English: Excuse me, is this a demand deposit (savings account) or a time deposit (fixed-term)?
  • Analysis: This demonstrates specific banking terminology. `活期 (huóqī)` means “flexible period,” and `定期 (dìngqī)` means “fixed period.”
• Example 4:
  • 为了孩子的教育，他们一直在努力增加存款。
  • Pinyin: Wèile háizi de jiàoyù, tāmen yīzhí zài nǔlì zēngjiā cúnkuǎn.
  • English: For the sake of their child's education, they have been constantly working hard to increase their savings.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural importance of saving for major family goals.
• Example 5:
  • 你可以直接在ATM机上存款，很方便。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ zhíjiē zài ATM jī shàng cúnkuǎn, hěn fāngbiàn.
  • English: You can deposit money directly at the ATM, it's very convenient.
  • Analysis: Shows the usage of 存款 in a modern, everyday context.
• Example 6:
  • 最近银行下调了存款利率。
  • Pinyin: Zuìjìn yínháng xiàtiáo le cúnkuǎn lìlǜ.
  • English: Recently, the banks have lowered the interest rates for deposits.
  • Analysis: 存款利率 (cúnkuǎn lìlǜ) is a set phrase for “deposit interest rate.”
• Example 7:
  • 他的所有存款都用来投资房地产了。
  • Pinyin: Tā de suǒyǒu cúnkuǎn dōu yònglái tóuzī fángdìchǎn le.
  • English: All of his savings were used to invest in real estate.
  • Analysis: Shows how 存款 is the source of funds for other financial activities.
• Example 8:
  • 这笔存款到期后，我打算取出来。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bǐ cúnkuǎn dàoqī hòu, wǒ dǎsuàn qǔ chūlái.
  • English: After this deposit matures, I plan to withdraw it.
  • Analysis: `一笔存款 (yì bǐ cúnkuǎn)` is a common measure word for “a deposit.” `到期 (dàoqī)` means “to mature/expire.”
• Example 9:
  • 请帮我查一下我的存款余额。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bāng wǒ chá yīxià wǒ de cúnkuǎn yú'é.
  • English: Please help me check my savings account balance.
  • Analysis: 存款余额 (cúnkuǎn yú'é) is the technical term for “account balance.” A very useful phrase at a bank.
• Example 10:
  • 他每个月工资的一部分会自动转为定期存款。
  • Pinyin: Tā měi ge yuè gōngzī de yī bùfèn huì zìdòng zhuǎnwéi dìngqī cúnkuǎn.
  • English: A portion of his salary each month is automatically converted into a fixed-term deposit.
  • Analysis: Illustrates a modern banking practice and the concept of systematic saving.

• 存款 (cúnkuǎn) vs. 储蓄 (chǔxù): This is a critical distinction.
  • 存款 (cúnkuǎn): Refers to the concrete money in the bank or the act of depositing it. It's tangible.
  • 储蓄 (chǔxù): Refers to the abstract concept or habit of saving.
  • Example: `储蓄是一种好习惯。` (Chǔxù shì yī zhǒng hǎo xíguàn.) - Saving (as a habit) is a good habit.
  • Example: `我的存款不多。` (Wǒ de cúnkuǎn bù duō.) - My savings (the money itself) are not much.
  • You would not say `存款是一种好习惯`.
• Redundant Object “钱 (qián)”: As mentioned, when using 存款 as a verb, do not add `钱 (qián)` after it. The `款 (kuǎn)` already means money. The simpler `存钱 (cúnqián)` is also correct and very common in spoken language, but `存款钱 (cúnkuǎn qián)` is wrong.
• False Friend: “Savings” vs. “Discount”: In English, “savings” can mean a discount (e.g., “you made a savings of $10”). 存款 has no connection to this meaning. A discount in Chinese is 打折 (dǎzhé).
  • Incorrect: 这个手机有很大的存款。(This phone has big savings.)
  • Correct: 这个手机在打折。(Zhège shǒujī zài dǎzhé.) - This phone is on sale/discounted.

• 取款 (qǔkuǎn) - The direct antonym: to withdraw money. (取 = to take, 款 = money).
• 储蓄 (chǔxù) - The broader, more abstract concept or habit of saving money.
• 银行 (yínháng) - Bank; the institution where you keep your 存款.
• 账户 (zhànghù) - Account; the specific account (e.g., savings account, checking account) that holds your 存款.
• 利息 (lìxī) - Interest; the money you earn on your 存款.
• 定期存款 (dìngqī cúnkuǎn) - A specific type: a fixed-term deposit, which usually offers higher interest.
• 活期存款 (huóqī cúnkuǎn) - A specific type: a demand deposit, where you can withdraw money anytime (like a standard savings or checking account).
• 节俭 (jiéjiǎn) - The cultural virtue of being thrifty/frugal, which is the behavioral root of having 存款.
• 理财 (lǐcái) - Financial management; the broader skill of managing your money, including your 存款 and investments.
• 余额 (yú'é) - Balance; the amount of money remaining in an account. Often used as `存款余额`.