分文不取

fēnwénbùqǔ

idiom #70,507

Meanings

1 to charge nothing at all
2 to give for free
3 without taking a single cent

Characters

cent (smallest unit)

copper cash (old coin)

Examples

他帮邻居修电脑，分文不取。

Tā bāng línjū xiū diànnǎo, fēn wén bù qǔ.

He fixed his neighbor's computer for free, taking nothing.

这位医生看病有时分文不取。

Zhè wèi yīshēng kàn bìng yǒushí fēn wén bù qǔ.

This doctor sometimes treats patients without charging anything.

老师为学生补课分文不取。

Lǎoshī wèi xuéshēng bǔkè fēn wén bù qǔ.

The teacher tutored the students without accepting a cent.

Tips

memory

分 is the smallest currency unit (a cent), 文 is the ancient copper cash — together they mean 'even the tiniest coin.' 不取 = 'does not take.' So: 'won't take even a cent.'

Stroke Order

分 fēn

文 wén

不 bù

取 qǔ