kèjīn: 氪金 - Spending Real Money in Games (Microtransactions)

• Keywords: kejin, 氪金, Chinese slang, microtransactions, pay-to-win, in-app purchase, gaming in China, spend money in games, F2P, gacha games, 土豪, gaming terms, Chinese netizen slang
• Summary: Learn about 氪金 (kèjīn), the essential Chinese internet slang for spending real money in video games. This guide explains its origin, cultural significance in China's massive gaming scene, and how it differs from simply “buying” something. Understand the world of free-to-play (F2P) games, microtransactions, and related concepts like “grinding” (肝 gān) and “whales” (土豪 tǔháo) to speak like a native gamer.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kè jīn
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Modern internet slang)
• Concise Definition: To spend real-world money on virtual goods, currency, or advantages within a video game.
• In a Nutshell: 氪金 is the go-to term for what English speakers call “in-app purchases” or “microtransactions.” It's the act of paying to get ahead or acquire cool items in games, especially in “free-to-play” models. If you've ever bought gems, skins, or loot boxes, you've engaged in an act of 氪金. It's a cornerstone of modern gaming vocabulary in China.

• 氪 (kè): This character literally means “Krypton,” the chemical element. Its inclusion is part of a nerdy, gaming-related origin story. Phonetically, it's a homophone for 课 (kè), which can mean “to levy a tax/fee.”
• 金 (jīn): This character means “gold” or “money.” It's one of the most fundamental characters related to currency and value.

The term's origin is a fascinating mix of translation and phonetic evolution. It started in the Chinese gaming community for “World of Warcraft,” where a high-level material was called “Khorium,” which was translated as 氪金 (kèjīn). Players needed a lot of it, so it became associated with great expense. Later, this term blended with a Japanese gaming term, 課金 (kakin), which means “to charge a fee.” The result is 氪金 (kèjīn), a perfect slang word that sounds like “levying money” but with a cool, sci-fi “Krypton” flair, implying something powerful and almost otherworldly that you have to pay for.

In China, the dominant model for mobile and online games is “Free-to-Play” (F2P). Games are free to download, but their entire business model revolves around encouraging players to 氪金. This has created a distinct gaming culture with its own vocabulary and social dynamics. The core cultural dynamic is the trade-off between time and money. This is perfectly captured by two opposing terms:

• 氪 (kè): To spend money to progress faster, gain power, or acquire exclusive items.
• 肝 (gān): To “grind.” The character literally means “liver,” implying you are working your liver to death by playing for hours on end to achieve the same result as someone who pays.

This creates a spectrum of players, from the 零氪 (líng kè) (zero-spending F2P player) to the 微氪 (wēi kè) (light spender) to the 重氪 (zhòng kè) (heavy spender, or “whale”). Being a heavy spender is often associated with the term 土豪 (tǔháo), or “nouveau riche,” and can be a source of both admiration and envy within the game community. Compared to the Western concept of “microtransactions,” 氪金 is a much more integrated and versatile slang term. While “microtransaction” is a formal, industry term, 氪金 is a word used colloquially by millions of players every day. It's a verb (“I need to 氪金”), a noun (“This game is all about 氪金”), and an adjective (“This is a very 氪金 game”).

氪金 is used almost exclusively in the context of video games and virtual goods. It's highly informal and common among young people on social media, in chat groups, and in daily conversation about hobbies.

• As a Verb: This is its most common use. It means the action of spending money.
  • > “为了这个新皮肤，我忍不住又氪金了。” (Wèile zhège xīn pífū, wǒ rěnbuzhù yòu kèjīn le.) - “I couldn't resist and spent money again for this new skin.”
• As a Noun/Concept: It can refer to the business model itself.
  • > “我不喜欢玩这个游戏，氪金元素太多了。” (Wǒ bù xǐhuān wán zhège yóuxì, kèjīn yuánsù tài duō le.) - “I don't like this game, it has too many pay-to-win elements.”
• Variations in Connotation:
  • Neutral: Simply stating a fact. “我这个月氪金了100块。” (I spent 100 yuan this month.)
  • Negative/Complaining: Describing a game as predatory. “这游戏太氪金了，不花钱根本玩不下去。” (This game is too pay-to-win, you can't play it at all without spending money.)
  • Self-deprecating: Joking about a lack of self-control. “管不住自己的手，又氪金了。” (I can't control my hands, I spent money again.)

• Example 1:
  • 我决定氪金抽那个新角色。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juédìng kèjīn chōu nàge xīn juésè.
  • English: I've decided to spend real money to try and get that new character (in a gacha game).
  • Analysis: This shows a common use case: spending money for a chance to win a desirable item, typical in “gacha” style games.
• Example 2:
  • 这款游戏不氪金也能玩，但会很肝。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn yóuxì bù kèjīn yě néng wán, dàn huì hěn gān.
  • English: You can play this game without spending money, but you'll have to grind a lot.
  • Analysis: This perfectly illustrates the core cultural trade-off between 氪金 (spending money) and 肝 (gān) (grinding/spending time).
• Example 3:
  • 他是我们服务器里最厉害的氪金大佬。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì wǒmen fúwùqì lǐ zuì lìhai de kèjīn dàlǎo.
  • English: He is the most powerful “pay-to-win” whale on our server.
  • Analysis: Here, 氪金 is used as a descriptor. A 大佬 (dàlǎo) is a “big boss” or very impressive person. A 氪金大佬 is a top player known for spending a lot of money.
• Example 4:
  • 我只是个微氪玩家，每个月就买张月卡。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐshì ge wēi kè wánjiā, měi ge yuè jiù mǎi zhāng yuèkǎ.
  • English: I'm just a light spender; I only buy the monthly pass each month.
  • Analysis: This introduces the concept of 微氪 (wēi kè), or “micro-spending.” A 月卡 (yuèkǎ), or monthly card, is a common, low-cost purchase in F2P games.
• Example 5:
  • 这个游戏太氪金了，吃相太难看。
  • Pinyin: Zhège yóuxì tài kèjīn le, chīxiàng tài nánkàn.
  • English: This game is too focused on making you spend money; its greed is really ugly.
  • Analysis: A very native-sounding complaint. 吃相难看 (chīxiàng nánkàn) literally means “ugly eating posture” and is a metaphor for blatant, shameless greed.
• Example 6:
  • 你是氪金玩家还是零氪党？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì kèjīn wánjiā háishì língkèdǎng?
  • English: Are you a pay-to-win player or a free-to-play player?
  • Analysis: 零氪 (líng kè) means “zero spending.” The 党 (dǎng) suffix means “party” or “faction,” a common way to describe a group of people with a shared characteristic in internet slang.
• Example 7:
  • 游戏的首次充值奖励很吸引人，就是为了让你开始氪金。
  • Pinyin: Yóuxì de shǒucì chōngzhí jiǎnglì hěn xīyǐnrén, jiùshì wèile ràng nǐ kāishǐ kèjīn.
  • English: The game's first-time top-up bonus is very attractive, it's designed to get you to start spending money.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 首充 (shǒuchōng), “first top-up,” a common marketing tactic directly related to the 氪金 model.
• Example 8:
  • 对不起，我的钱包不允许我再氪金了。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ de qiánbāo bù yǔnxǔ wǒ zài kèjīn le.
  • English: Sorry, my wallet won't allow me to spend any more money (on this game).
  • Analysis: A humorous and common way to express that you've spent enough or can't afford to spend more.
• Example 9:
  • 有些人氪金是为了变强，有些人只是为了好看的皮肤。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén kèjīn shì wèile biàn qiáng, yǒuxiē rén zhǐshì wèile hǎokàn de pífū.
  • English: Some people spend money to become stronger, while others just do it for good-looking skins.
  • Analysis: This shows the different motivations behind 氪金: for power (pay-to-win) or for cosmetics.
• Example 10:
  • 别再氪金了，这只是个游戏而已。
  • Pinyin: Bié zài kèjīn le, zhè zhǐshì ge yóuxì éryǐ.
  • English: Stop spending money on the game, it's just a game after all.
  • Analysis: This is something a friend or family member might say, showing the term's use in everyday advice or admonishment.

• Specificity is Key: The biggest mistake is using 氪金 for general purchases. It is almost exclusively for virtual goods and services inside a digital platform, primarily video games. You do not 氪金 a new phone or a cup of coffee.
  • Correct: 我为这个游戏氪金了。(Wǒ wèi zhège yóuxì kèjīn le.) - “I spent money for this game.”
  • Incorrect: `*`我氪金了一件新衬衫。(`*`Wǒ kèjīn le yí jiàn xīn chènshān.)
  • For physical items, you must use the standard verb 买 (mǎi): 我买了一件新衬衫。(Wǒ mǎi le yí jiàn xīn chènshān.) - “I bought a new shirt.”
• 氪金 (kèjīn) vs. 充值 (chōngzhí): These are related but different.
  • 充值 (chōngzhí) means “to top-up” or “to recharge.” It's the action of adding funds to your account balance. For example, you `chōngzhí` your phone credit or your game wallet.
  • 氪金 (kèjīn) is the broader slang term that encompasses the entire act of spending real money for in-game benefits, which might include `chōngzhí` as the first step. You `chōngzhí` 100 RMB, and then you use that money to `kèjīn` for a new sword. In casual speech, they are often used interchangeably to mean “spending money on the game.”

• 肝 (gān) - Literally “liver.” The slang term for “grinding” in a game for hours. The direct opposite of 氪金.
• 土豪 (tǔháo) - “Nouveau riche.” Used to describe “whales” or players who spend extravagant amounts of money in games.
• 零氪 (líng kè) - “Zero-spend.” Describes a player who plays a game completely for free (F2P).
• 微氪 (wēi kè) - “Micro-spend.” Describes a player who spends small, regular amounts of money, like on a monthly pass.
• 重氪 (zhòng kè) - “Heavy-spend.” Describes a serious spender, a “whale,” someone who drops significant money on a game.
• 月卡 (yuèkǎ) - “Monthly card.” A common, low-cost microtransaction that provides daily rewards for a month. A staple of 微氪 players.
• 首充 (shǒuchōng) - “First top-up.” A special bonus offered the first time a player adds money to their account, designed to convert F2P players into spenders.
• 白嫖 (báipiáo) - Slang for getting something for free that usually costs money, often through loopholes, events, or just by being a dedicated F2P player. Synonymous with the spirit of 零氪.
• 欧皇 (ōuhuáng) - “European Emperor.” A player with extremely good luck in gacha/loot box systems.
• 非酋 (fēizhōu) - “African Chieftain.” A player with extremely bad luck in gacha/loot box systems. This is a pun on 非洲 (Africa) and 非 (non-), as in non-European/unlucky.