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expense

HSK 10 N2
fèi
つい.やす、つい.える
Phonosemantic compound. 貝 represents the meaning and 弗 represents the sound.
Components
Traditional (費)
negative+ shellfish =
expense
Phonetic component
negative
not, negative
View phonetic series →
Meaning component
shellfish
In ancient China shells were used as currency.
Simplified (费)
negative+ sea shell =
expenses
Phonetic component
negative
not, negative
View phonetic series →
Meaning component
bèi sea shell
In ancient China shells were used as currency.
Notes
Historical Evolution
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze
Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Regular
Modern
Chinese
/ [Fèi]
surname Fei
/ [fèi]
to cost; to spend; fee; wasteful; expenses
Japanese
同音
n-suf cost; expense
Korean
[費]
Affix
-bi; A suffix used to mean expense, money, etc.
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
Hi surname