零钱
HSK 4 (exam 2025)Old HSK 4
零钱 (língqián) · small change
零钱 (língqián) means “small change; pocket money”. It is written with 2 characters: 零 (zero) + 钱 (money). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 零钱 is built
The characters
零 líng · zero
What 零 is made of
- 雨yǔ — rain
- 帀zā — to rotate
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 巾jīn — cloth
- 帀zā — to rotate
- 令lìng — command
- 人rén — person
Origin hint: 雨 gives the meaning, 令 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
钱 qián · money
What 钱 is made of
- 钅jīn — metal
- 戋jiān — small
- 戈gē — spear
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: 钅 gives the meaning, 戋 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
你身上有零钱吗？Nǐ shēnshang yǒu língqián ma?Do you have any change on you?
妈妈每周给我一些零钱。Māma měizhōu gěi wǒ yīxiē língqián.Mom gives me some pocket money every week.
Questions about 零钱
What does 零钱 mean?
零钱 (língqián) means “small change; pocket money”.
How do you pronounce 零钱?
零钱 is pronounced língqián.
Which HSK level is 零钱?
零钱 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and Old HSK 4.
Related words
- 零下língxiàbelow zero
- 零食língshísnack
- 零件língjiànpart
- 零星língxīngscattered
- 零花钱línghuāqiánpocket money
- 零língzero
- 钱包qiánbāowallet
- 价钱jiàqianprice
- 本钱běnqiáncapital (money)
- 压岁钱yāsuìqiánNew Year money (gift to children)
Learn 零钱 with its group
It is part of Old HSK 4 · Group 29: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.