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| 捐款 [2025/08/10 11:15] – created xiaoer | 捐款 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== juānkuǎn: 捐款 - To Donate Money, Donation ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** donate money in Chinese, Chinese for donation, juankuan meaning, what is juankuan, make a donation in Chinese, charity in China, philanthropy in China, 捐款, 捐赠, 慈善, 公益 | |
| * **Summary:** Learn how to say "donate money" in Chinese with the word **捐款 (juānkuǎn)**. This essential term, meaning "to donate money" or a "monetary donation," is fundamental for understanding modern Chinese society, charity, and public responses to events like natural disasters. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage, from corporate philanthropy to mobile payments on WeChat. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** juānkuǎn | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb / Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To donate money; a monetary donation. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **捐款 (juānkuǎn)** is the most direct and common way to talk about giving money to a cause. It's formed by combining the characters for "to contribute" (捐) and "a sum of money" (款). Whether you see a call for disaster relief on the news or a charity drive at a school, this is the word you'll encounter. It can be used as a verb ("I want to **捐款**") or a noun ("Thank you for your **捐款**"). | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **捐 (juān):** This character means "to contribute," "to donate," or "to give up." The left side is the "hand" radical (扌), indicating an action done with one's hands. The right side provides the sound. Think of it as "giving something away with your hands" for a greater good. | |
| * **款 (kuǎn):** This character means "a sum of money," "a fund," or "payment." | |
| When combined, **捐款 (juānkuǎn)** literally means "to contribute a sum of money." The meaning is transparent and logical, making it easy for learners to remember. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, the act of **捐款 (juānkuǎn)** is deeply tied to concepts of collective responsibility and social harmony. While private charity has always existed, large-scale public fundraising has become a major feature of modern society, especially in response to national events. | |
| The 2008 Sichuan Earthquake was a pivotal moment. The overwhelming public response, with citizens from all walks of life making a **捐款**, showcased a powerful sense of national unity and civic participation. This event solidified **捐款** as a common civic action. | |
| Compared to the Western concept of "charity," which is often driven by individualistic principles, religious tithing, or tax incentives, **捐款** in China can feel more like a collective, almost patriotic, duty. When the government or state media calls for donations, the response is often massive. However, with the rise of online platforms like WeChat Pay and Alipay, individual-led fundraising for personal causes (like medical bills) has also become incredibly common, shifting the landscape towards more peer-to-peer giving. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **捐款** is a neutral-to-formal term used widely in news, official announcements, and everyday conversation about giving. | |
| * **Disaster Relief:** This is the most common context. After an earthquake, flood, or other catastrophe, you will see news reports and social media campaigns urging people to **为灾区捐款 (wèi zāiqū juānkuǎn)** - "donate money for the disaster area." | |
| * **Online and Mobile Donations:** In China, donating is incredibly convenient. Apps like WeChat and Alipay have built-in features for charity. A friend might share a link in a group chat with a message like, "**大家一起捐款吧 (dàjiā yìqǐ juānkuǎn ba)**" - "Let's all donate money together!" | |
| * **Corporate Philanthropy:** Companies often announce large **捐款** as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. You might read a headline like, "某公司捐款一千万元支持教育 (mǒu gōngsī juānkuǎn yìqiān wàn yuán zhīchí jiàoyù)" - "A certain company donated 10 million RMB to support education." | |
| * **As a Noun:** When used as a noun, it refers to the donation itself. A charity might publish a report detailing the "**捐款**" it has received. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 我想**捐款**帮助那些需要帮助的孩子。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng **juānkuǎn** bāngzhù nàxiē xūyào bāngzhù de háizi. | |
| * English: I want to donate money to help those children in need. | |
| * Analysis: A simple, common use of **捐款** as a verb, expressing intent. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 非常感谢您的**捐款**，我们会好好利用这笔钱。 | |
| * Pinyin: Fēicháng gǎnxiè nín de **juānkuǎn**, wǒmen huì hǎohāo lìyòng zhè bǐ qián. | |
| * English: Thank you very much for your donation; we will make good use of this money. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **捐款** is used as a noun, meaning "the donation" itself. `您的捐款` means "your donation." | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 地震发生后，全国人民踊跃**捐款**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Dìzhèn fāshēng hòu, quánguó rénmín yǒngyuè **juānkuǎn**. | |
| * English: After the earthquake occurred, people all over the country enthusiastically donated money. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence uses the adverb `踊跃 (yǒngyuè)` meaning "enthusiastically" or "eagerly," which often accompanies **捐款** in news reports to describe a massive public response. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 这家公司向红十字会**捐款**一百万元。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī xiàng Hóngshízìhuì **juānkuǎn** yìbǎi wàn yuán. | |
| * English: This company donated one million yuan to the Red Cross. | |
| * Analysis: Shows the structure `向 [recipient] 捐款 [amount]` (donate [amount] to [recipient]). | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 你可以在网上完成**捐款**，非常方便。 | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ zài wǎngshàng wánchéng **juānkuǎn**, fēicháng fāngbiàn. | |
| * English: You can complete the donation online; it's very convenient. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights the modern context of online donations. **捐款** is a noun here, "the act of donating." | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这次活动募集到的**捐款**总额超过了预期。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè cì huódòng mùjí dào de **juānkuǎn** zǒng'é chāoguòle yùqī. | |
| * English: The total amount of donations raised from this event exceeded expectations. | |
| * Analysis: `捐款总额 (juānkuǎn zǒng'é)` is a useful compound noun meaning "total amount of donations." | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 他呼吁大家为环境保护项目**捐款**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā hūyù dàjiā wèi huánjìng bǎohù xiàngmù **juānkuǎn**. | |
| * English: He called on everyone to donate money for environmental protection projects. | |
| * Analysis: The structure `为 [cause] 捐款` (donate for [cause]) is very common. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 每一笔**捐款**，无论大小，都是一份爱心。 | |
| * Pinyin: Měi yī bǐ **juānkuǎn**, wúlùn dàxiǎo, dōu shì yí fèn àixīn. | |
| * English: Every single donation, no matter how big or small, is a token of compassion. | |
| * Analysis: `一笔捐款 (yì bǐ juānkuǎn)` uses the measure word `笔 (bǐ)` for sums of money, including donations. `爱心 (àixīn)` - "loving heart" - is frequently associated with charitable acts. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 很多明星带头**捐款**，起到了很好的榜样作用。 | |
| * Pinyin: Hěnduō míngxīng dàitóu **juānkuǎn**, qǐdàole hěn hǎo de bǎngyàng zuòyòng. | |
| * English: Many celebrities took the lead in donating money, setting a very good example. | |
| * Analysis: `带头 (dàitóu)` means "to take the lead," often used to describe influential figures initiating a collective action like donating. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 请问你们接受匿名**捐款**吗？ | |
| * Pinyin: Qǐngwèn nǐmen jiēshòu nìmíng **juānkuǎn** ma? | |
| * English: Excuse me, do you accept anonymous donations? | |
| * Analysis: `匿名捐款 (nìmíng juānkuǎn)` is the specific term for an "anonymous donation." | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **捐款 (juānkuǎn)** and similar terms. | |
| * **捐款 (juānkuǎn) vs. 捐赠 (juānzèng):** | |
| * **捐款** is **only for money**. | |
| * [[捐赠]] (juānzèng) is a broader, more formal term for donating **anything**, including money, goods (clothes, books), or even something abstract like donating organs. | |
| * **Correct:** 我想**捐赠**一些旧衣服。(Wǒ xiǎng **juānzèng** yìxiē jiù yīfu.) - I want to donate some old clothes. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我想**捐款**一些旧衣服。 (This is wrong because clothes are not money.) | |
| * **Rule of Thumb:** If you're talking about money, you can use either, but **捐款** is more specific and common. If you're talking about physical items, you **must** use **捐赠**. | |
| * **捐款 (juānkuǎn) vs. 资助 (zīzhù):** | |
| * **捐款** is usually a one-time donation to a cause or organization. | |
| * [[资助]] (zīzhù) means "to sponsor" or "to provide financial aid," and it implies a more specific, ongoing relationship. You would **资助** a student through college, but you would **捐款** to a disaster relief fund. | |
| * **捐款 (juānkuǎn) vs. 奉献 (fèngxiàn):** | |
| * **捐款** is a concrete action of giving money. | |
| * [[奉献]] (fèngxiàn) means "to dedicate" or "to devote." It's much more profound and abstract. You can **奉献** your life, your time, or your youth to a cause, but you don't **奉献** 100 RMB. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[捐赠]] (juānzèng) - To donate (general term for money, goods, etc.). | |
| * [[慈善]] (císhàn) - The general concept of charity or philanthropy. | |
| * [[公益]] (gōngyì) - Public welfare; actions for the public good. A common phrase is `公益活动 (gōngyì huódòng)`, a public welfare event. | |
| * [[募捐]] (mùjuān) - To fundraise; to solicit donations. This is the action of *collecting* the money that people **捐款**. | |
| * [[资助]] (zīzhù) - To sponsor or provide financial aid, often for a specific person or project over time. | |
| * [[奉献]] (fèngxiàn) - To devote, to dedicate (time, effort, life). A much more profound concept than a simple donation. | |
| * [[爱心]] (àixīn) - Literally "love heart"; compassion. Often used in phrases like `爱心捐款` (a donation from the heart). | |
| * [[基金会]] (jījīnhuì) - A foundation (e.g., a charitable foundation). | |
| * [[红十字会]] (Hóngshízìhuì) - The Red Cross Society. A major recipient of **捐款**. | |