juānkuǎn: 捐款 - To Donate Money, Donation

• 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.

• 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”).

• 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.

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.

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 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.”

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.

• 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.