掏腰包

tāoyāobāo

phrase #20,668

Meanings

1 to pay out of pocket
2 to foot the bill
3 to dip into one's own wallet

Characters

to dig out; to reach into; to pull out

waist; lower back

bag; packet; bundle

Examples

HSK 6

他为朋友的婚礼礼物掏了腰包。

Tā wèi péngyou de hūnlǐ lǐwù tāo le yāobāo.

He dug into his own pocket for his friend's wedding gift.

HSK 6

这笔费用最后由老板亲自掏腰包支付。

Zhè bǐ fèiyòng zuìhòu yóu lǎobǎn qīnzì tāo yāobāo zhīfù.

The expense was ultimately paid out of the boss's own pocket.

HSK 7-9

公司不报销，得自己掏腰包。

Gōngsī bù bàoxiāo, děi zìjǐ tāo yāobāo.

The company won't reimburse it - I have to pay out of my own pocket.

Tips

memory

Literally: to reach into (掏) one's waist-pocket (腰包). The 腰包 (waist bag / money pouch) was traditionally how people carried cash. Reaching in to pull out your own money = paying yourself.

Stroke Order

掏 tāo

腰 yāo

包 bāo