About
The character 费, originating from its traditional form 費, is structurally composed of the phonetic element 弗 atop the semantic component 貝, which denotes shell or currency, thereby establishing its early association with monetary expenditure. Historically, its meaning centered on the act of spending or consuming resources, often carrying a connotation of wastefulness, and over centuries it has maintained this core while expanding to encompass broader concepts of cost and expense. The visual simplification to 费, where 贝 replaces 貝, preserved the character's essential compositional logic and its enduring connection to financial transactions and the depletion of value.
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。