Meaning of 押金
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- deposit
- down payment
How to use 押金
押金 is the refundable deposit you pay when renting an apartment, a bike, or equipment, and you usually get it back later. Common verbs are 交 (jiāo, pay) and 退 (tuì, refund). Example: 租房要交一个月的押金。(Zū fáng yào jiāo yí ge yuè de yājīn.) Renting an apartment requires a one-month deposit.
押 (yā) means to pledge or hold something as security, and 金 (jīn) means gold or money. Money you leave behind as security is a deposit.
Common mistake: Learners often use 押金 for a bank deposit, but money saved in a bank is 存款 (cúnkuǎn). Also do not confuse 押 (yā) with 抽 (chōu), which looks similar but means to pull out.
押金 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
押 yā · to mortgage · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
金 jīn · gold · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 押金.
Questions about 押金
What does 押金 mean?
押金 (yājīn) means "deposit; down payment" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 押金?
押金 is made of 2 characters: 押 (8 strokes), 金 (8 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 押金 an HSK word?
Yes. 押金 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 押金 and 定金?
押金 is a security deposit that is normally returned when you give back the item or move out. 定金 (dìngjīn) is a down payment to reserve something, and it is often not refunded if you cancel.
How do I ask for my deposit back in Chinese?
You can say 请把押金退给我 (Qǐng bǎ yājīn tuì gěi wǒ), meaning please refund my deposit. The key verb is 退 (tuì), and 退押金 (tuì yājīn) is the standard phrase.