Definitions

chāo (noun) paper money; banknotes
chāo (verb) to copy; to transcribe

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 钞, from its traditional form 鈔, combines the metal radical 钅 (linking it to wealth and currency) with the phonetic component 少. Its original meaning referred to seizing or confiscating property. This later extended to mean copying or transcribing texts. Historically, the character's primary usage shifted when paper money was introduced, becoming the main term for banknotes. Today, it primarily denotes physical cash bills, while the sense of copying persists in certain compound words.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我有一张票。

Wǒ yǒu yī zhāng chāopiào.

I have a banknote.

他用票买书。

Tā yòng chāopiào mǎi shū.

He uses banknotes to buy books.

这张票很新。

Zhè zhāng chāopiào hěn xīn.

This banknote is very new.

我不小心丢了票。

Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn diū le chāopiào.

I accidentally lost the banknote.

如果票不够,我们就不能去旅行。

Rúguǒ chāopiào bù gòu, wǒmen jiù bù néng qù lǚxíng.

If the money is not enough, we cannot go traveling.

这些票比那些旧。

Zhèxiē chāopiào bǐ nàxiē jiù.

These banknotes are older than those.

票被小心地保存在保险箱里。

Chāopiào bèi xiǎoxīn de bǎocún zài bǎoxiǎnxiāng lǐ.

The banknotes are carefully stored in the safe.

尽管票不是万能的,但没有它很多事情都办不成。

Jǐnguǎn chāopiào bù shì wànnéng de, dàn méiyǒu tā hěn duō shìqing dōu bàn bù chéng.

Although money is not omnipotent, without it many things cannot be done.