About
The character 费 evolved from the traditional form 費, a phono-semantic compound constructed from the phonetic element 弗 and the semantic component 貝, which signifies valuables or money and thus anchors the character's early association with financial matters. In its simplified iteration, the semantic component is written as 贝, but the fundamental structure is unchanged. Originally denoting the act of spending or incurring costs, the character's meaning broadened over centuries to encompass concepts like wastefulness and general consumption, while it also became established as a surname.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
电话费很贵。
他每个月都要交水费。
不要浪费食物。
学习外语需要费时间。
这个项目费了很多心血。
办理签证手续很费事。
为了省钱，他费尽心思找优惠。
这项研究耗费了大量的人力物力。