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现金 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
现金xiànjīncashHSK 4, n, rank #1979, Medium
xiànjīn(xian4jin1) T4
  1. 1cash
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
现金(現金)xiànjīn(xian4jin1)

现金 (xiànjīn) refers to physical cash currency that can be used for transactions. It is commonly used in daily life for purchases, especially in informal settings where electronic payments may not be accepted. The term emphasizes the immediacy and liquidity of money in physical form.

Frequency#1979DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cash plays a significant role during holidays and celebrations, such as giving red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo) filled with cash as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. This practice highlights the importance of physical money in social customs.

Memory Tip

Think of 现 (xiàn) as 'present' or 'now' and 金 (jīn) as 'gold' or 'money'—together they evoke the image of money you can hold right now. Imagine receiving gold coins in your hand immediately for a service, which helps link the idea of cash to this character.

Meanings of 现金

xiànjīn(xian4jin1)
1cash
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 现金

现金Simplified
現金Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1979Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 现金

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Podcast: 现金

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AI Study Notes for 现金

Quick Contrast

纸币 (zhǐbì) - use 现金 (xiànjīn) for general cash, while 纸币 specifically refers to paper money.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 现 (xiàn) as 'present' or 'now' and 金 (jīn) as 'gold' or 'money'—together they evoke the image of money you can hold right now. Imagine receiving gold coins in your hand immediately for a service, which helps link the idea of cash to this character.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 现金 with other financial terms like 信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ), which means credit card. 现金 is typically used in informal contexts, while formal settings may prefer 货币 (huòbì) for currency. Remember that in conversations, specifying 现金 can clarify that you are referring to physical cash versus digital transactions.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 现金 connects well with other financial-related vocabulary, such as 价格 (jiàgé, price) and 支付 (zhīfù, payment). Focus on using 现金 in practical scenarios, like discussing shopping or budgeting to reinforce its meaning.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cash plays a significant role during holidays and celebrations, such as giving red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo) filled with cash as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. This practice highlights the importance of physical money in social customs.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 现金 with 货币 (huòbì), which refers to currency in a broader sense. For example, saying '我需要货币' (I need cash) is incorrect; instead, use '我需要现金' (I need cash).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 现金

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Component Characters

现xiànto appear
HSK 48 strokes王
View full entry
金jīngold
HSK 38 strokes金
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Write 现金

现
金

Practice writing 现金 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 现金

现金 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

你可以用____或刷卡。

You can pay with cash or swipe a card.

Example Sentences for 现金 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这毕竟是一家现金充裕的公司。

zhè bì jìng shì yī jiā xiàn jīn chōng yù de gōng sī。

This, after all, is a company which is awash with cash.
2
在公司倒闭后，他手头缺少现金。

zài gōng sī dǎo bì hòu， ， tā shǒu tóu quē shǎo xiàn。

He was short of cash after the collapse of his business.
3
投资者预料会出现灾难，正在储备大量现金。

tóu zī zhě yù liào huì chū xiàn zāi nán， ， zhèng zài chǔ bèi dà liáng xiàn。

Investors were storing up a lot of cash in anticipation of disaster.
4
公司不能从银行账户中提取现金。

gōng sī bù néng cóng yín háng zhàng hù zhōng tí qǔ xiàn jīn。

Companies could not draw money from bank accounts as cash.
5
仅靠现金不能使东欧的银行维持下去。

jǐn kào xiàn jīn bù néng shǐ dōng ōu de yín háng wéi chí xià qù。

Cash alone will not make Eastern Europe's banks viable.
6
该自动取款机已有两个星期不能提供现金。

gāi zì dòng qǔ kuǎn jī yǐ yǒu liǎng gè xīng qī bù néng tí gōng xiàn jīn。

For two weeks, the cash machine was unable to dispense money.
7
他急需现金使经营惨淡的餐馆走出困境。

tā jí xū xiàn jīn shǐ jīng yíng cǎn dàn de cān guǎn zǒu chū kùn jìng。

He desperately needed cash to bail out the ailing restaurant.
8
他必须先付一部分现金。

tā bì xū xiān fù yī bù fēn xiàn jīn。

He's got to put cash down.
9
股票市场长期投资的收益比现金存款要高。

gǔ piào shì cháng cháng qī tóu zī de shōu yì bǐ xiàn jīn cún kuǎn yào gāo。

Long-term stock market investments have produced superior returns compared with cash deposits.
10
如果不用信用卡付账, 就请付现金.

rú guǒ bù yòng xìn yòng kǎ fù zhàng, , jiù qǐng fù xiàn.

Unless paying by credit card, please pay in cash.

Cultural Notes for 现金

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, cash plays a significant role during holidays and celebrations, such as giving red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo) filled with cash as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. This practice highlights the importance of physical money in social customs.

Frequently Asked Questions about 现金

现金 refers to physical cash, while 银行卡 (yínhángkǎ) means bank card, which is used for electronic transactions.