贷款

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dàikuǎn: 贷款 - Loan, Credit

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 贷款, daikuan, Chinese loan, get a loan in China, apply for a loan, bank loan in Chinese, mortgage in Chinese, car loan, student loan, Chinese finance terms, borrow money in Chinese.
  • Summary: Learn how to talk about loans in Chinese with 贷款 (dàikuǎn), the essential term for any formal borrowing from a bank or financial institution. This page breaks down how to apply for a loan (申请贷款), discuss different types like mortgages (房贷) and car loans (车贷), and understand the cultural significance of debt in modern China. Perfect for anyone navigating major life purchases or financial discussions in Chinese.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): dàikuǎn
  • Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: A loan; a sum of money borrowed from an institution like a bank. As a verb, it means to provide or grant a loan.
  • In a Nutshell: 贷款 (dàikuǎn) is the standard, formal word for a “loan” in Chinese. Think mortgages, car loans, or business loans—any situation where you sign a contract with a financial institution. It can be used as a noun (“I have a loan”) or a verb by the lender (“The bank loaned me money”). It carries a formal and serious connotation, distinct from casually borrowing cash from a friend.

Character Breakdown

  • 贷 (dài): This character means “to lend” or “a loan.” It's a phono-semantic compound. The top part, `代 (dài)`, provides the sound. The bottom part, `贝 (bèi)`, is the radical for “shell,” which was an ancient form of currency. So, `贝` signifies money or value, making `贷` related to financial transactions.
  • 款 (kuǎn): This character means a “sum of money” or “fund.” It can also mean “clause” or “item” in a contract.
  • Together, 贷款 (dàikuǎn) literally translates to “lend-sum of money,” perfectly capturing the concept of a formal loan.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • Traditionally, Chinese culture has prized saving money and avoiding debt. The virtue of thrift was paramount, and borrowing was often seen as a last resort or a sign of poor financial management. However, with China's rapid economic development, this mindset has undergone a massive shift, especially among younger, urban generations.
  • Comparison to Western “Credit”: While 贷款 (dàikuǎn) translates directly to “loan,” the cultural approach to acquiring one highlights key differences. In the West, individual credit history is paramount. In China, while a credit score (`信用`, xìnyòng) is increasingly important, factors like a stable job at a state-owned enterprise, existing assets, and especially a substantial down payment (`首付`, shǒufù) are often critical.
  • A classic example is buying a home. The down payment required for a mortgage (`房贷`, fángdài) is often so high that it's common for the entire family, including parents and even grandparents, to pool their life savings to help a young couple. This reflects the strong family-centric and collective values in Chinese society, where a major life purchase is often a family project, not just an individual endeavor. This contrasts with the more individualistic approach to home-buying in many Western countries.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 贷款 is a common and necessary term in modern urban life. You will encounter it in any discussion related to banking, real estate, or major purchases.
  • Applying for and Repaying Loans:
    • The most common phrase is 申请贷款 (shēnqǐng dàikuǎn) - “to apply for a loan.”
    • To talk about paying back a loan, you use 还贷款 (huán dàikuǎn).
  • Types of Loans: The word 贷款 is often shortened and combined with other words to specify the loan type:
    • 房贷 (fángdài): Housing loan, mortgage (from `房子 fángzi` - house).
    • 车贷 (chēdài): Car loan (from `车 chē` - car).
    • 助学贷款 (zhùxué dàikuǎn): Student loan (from `助学 zhùxué` - to assist with studies).
    • 商业贷款 (shāngyè dàikuǎn): Business loan, commercial loan.
  • Formality: 贷款 is a formal term. You use it with banks, in legal documents, and in serious financial conversations. For borrowing a small amount of money from a friend, you would use the informal term 借钱 (jièqián).

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 为了买这套公寓，我们向银行申请了一笔贷款。
    • Pinyin: Wèile mǎi zhè tào gōngyù, wǒmen xiàng yínháng shēnqǐngle yī bǐ dàikuǎn.
    • English: In order to buy this apartment, we applied for a loan from the bank.
    • Analysis: This shows the most common structure: `向 [institution] 申请贷款` (apply for a loan from [institution]). `一笔 (yī bǐ)` is a measure word for large sums of money.
  • Example 2:
    • 我每个月都要按时还贷款，压力很大。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ měi ge yuè dōu yào ànshí huán dàikuǎn, yālì hěn dà.
    • English: I have to repay my loan on time every month; the pressure is immense.
    • Analysis: `还贷款 (huán dàikuǎn)` is the set phrase for “repaying a loan.” `按时 (ànshí)` means “on time.”
  • Example 3:
    • 这家银行的贷款利率是多少？
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā yínháng de dàikuǎn lìlǜ shì duōshǎo?
    • English: What is this bank's loan interest rate?
    • Analysis: Here, 贷款 is used as a noun attributive, modifying `利率 (lìlǜ)`, which means “interest rate.”
  • Example 4:
    • 他的信用记录不好，所以银行不给他贷款。
    • Pinyin: Tā de xìnyòng jìlù bù hǎo, suǒyǐ yínháng bù gěi tā dàikuǎn.
    • English: His credit history is not good, so the bank won't grant him a loan.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates the verb usage. `给 (gěi)` + person + `贷款` means “to grant a loan to” someone.
  • Example 5:
    • 很多年轻人依靠贷款来买他们的第一辆车。
    • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén yīkào dàikuǎn lái mǎi tāmen de dì yī liàng chē.
    • English: A lot of young people rely on loans to buy their first car.
    • Analysis: A simple noun usage showing the role of loans in modern consumption. `依靠 (yīkào)` means “to rely on.”
  • Example 6:
    • 你的房贷还有多少年才还完？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ de fángdài hái yǒu duōshǎo nián cái huán wán?
    • English: How many years do you have left to pay off your mortgage?
    • Analysis: This uses the common abbreviation `房贷 (fángdài)` for `房屋贷款 (fángwū dàikuǎn)`. Note that `款 (kuǎn)` is dropped, but the meaning is clear.
  • Example 7:
    • 办理贷款手续需要准备很多文件。
    • Pinyin: Bànlǐ dàikuǎn shǒuxù xūyào zhǔnbèi hěn duō wénjiàn.
    • English: Handling the loan procedures requires preparing a lot of documents.
    • Analysis: `办理手续 (bànlǐ shǒuxù)` means “to go through procedures/formalities.” This is very common official language.
  • Example 8:
    • 我们公司的现金流出了问题，需要一笔商业贷款。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de xiànjīnliú chūle wèntí, xūyào yī bǐ shāngyè dàikuǎn.
    • English: Our company's cash flow has run into problems; we need a business loan.
    • Analysis: This shows a specific type of loan, `商业贷款 (shāngyè dàikuǎn)`.
  • Example 9:
    • 政府为大学生提供了低息的助学贷款。
    • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ wèi dàxuéshēng tígōngle dī xī de zhùxué dàikuǎn.
    • English: The government provides low-interest student loans for university students.
    • Analysis: Another specific loan type, `助学贷款 (zhùxué dàikuǎn)`. `低息 (dī xī)` means “low interest.”
  • Example 10:
    • 如果你提前还清贷款，可能需要支付一笔违约金。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ tíqián huán qīng dàikuǎn, kěnéng xūyào zhīfù yī bǐ wéiyuējīn.
    • English: If you pay off the loan early, you might need to pay a penalty fee.
    • Analysis: `还清 (huán qīng)` is a resultative complement meaning “to pay off completely.” `违约金 (wéiyuējīn)` is a “penalty for breach of contract.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 贷款 (dàikuǎn) vs. 借钱 (jièqián): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
    • 贷款 (dàikuǎn): Formal, institutional, contractual. Involves banks or financial companies. Almost always involves interest and a formal application process. Use it for mortgages, car loans, etc.
    • 借钱 (jièqián): Informal, personal. Between friends, family, or colleagues. It literally means “to borrow money.” It can involve interest, but often doesn't. It's used for everyday situations.
  • Common Mistake Example:
    • Incorrect: 我忘了带钱包，所以我跟同事贷款了五十块钱。 (Wǒ wàngle dài qiánbāo, suǒyǐ wǒ gēn tóngshì dàikuǎnle wǔshí kuài qián.)
    • Why it's wrong: Using 贷款 here is like saying you applied for a formal, contractual loan from your colleague for 50 RMB. It sounds very strange and overly formal.
    • Correct: 我忘了带钱包，所以我跟同事借了五十块钱。 (Wǒ wàngle dài qiánbāo, suǒyǐ wǒ gēn tóngshì jièle wǔshí kuài qián.)

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 借钱 (jièqián) - To borrow money (informal, between people). The direct counterpart to 贷款 for personal situations.
  • 申请 (shēnqǐng) - To apply for. Almost always used with 贷款, as in `申请贷款`.
  • 利息 (lìxī) - Interest. The cost of borrowing money through a 贷款.
  • 房贷 (fángdài) - Mortgage; home loan. The most common and significant type of 贷款 for most families.
  • 车贷 (chēdài) - Car loan. Another very common type of consumer 贷款.
  • 信用 (xìnyòng) - Credit; trustworthiness. Your credit history, which banks check before approving a 贷款.
  • 银行 (yínháng) - Bank. The primary institution that provides 贷款.
  • 还款 (huánkuǎn) - Repayment; to repay a loan. A slightly more formal synonym for `还贷款`.
  • 首付 (shǒufù) - Down payment. The initial payment made when buying something on credit, essential for getting a `房贷`.
  • 债务 (zhàiwù) - Debt. The overall state of owing money. A 贷款 is a form of 债务.