零花钱

líng huā qián

HSK 3.0 Level 4 Noun Uncommon

Definitions

1. pocket money
2. allowance

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item

私房钱

sī fáng qián

secret purse

私房钱 is money saved secretly, unlike 零花钱 which is money given regularly for small expenses.

Synonyms

1 item

零用钱

líng yòng qián

pocket money

零花钱 and 零用钱 both refer to pocket money or allowance; 零花钱 is more common in mainland China, while 零用钱 is also widely understood.

Usage notes

Common mistakes

零花钱 is an uncountable concept in Chinese; do not say 一个零花钱. Use measure words like 一点 or 一些 for quantity.

Formality

零花钱 is neutral and suitable for everyday conversation, while 零用钱 can sound slightly more formal or dated in some regions.

Example Sentences

1 shown

妈妈给了我一些零花钱。

Mom gave me some pocket money.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 零花钱

flower

coin

zero

to spend money

零花钱