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掏钱

掏錢
tāoqián
verb HSK 7-9 #12,160

Meanings

  1. 1 to pay (out of pocket); to fork out money
  2. 2 to reach into one's pocket for money

Characters

掏
tāo
to pull out; to dig out
钱
qián
money
Literally 'dig out money' - the physical gesture of reaching into a pocket or bag to pull out cash.

Examples

HSK 2
他不愿意自己掏钱。
Tā bú yuànyì zìjǐ tāoqián.
He doesn't want to pay out of his own pocket.
HSK 3
这顿饭谁掏钱？
Zhè dùn fàn shéi tāoqián?
Who's paying for this meal?
HSK 3
别让我每次都掏钱。
Bié ràng wǒ měicì dōu tāoqián.
Don't make me pay every time.

Tips

usage
掏钱 emphasizes the reluctance or effort of paying - it literally means reaching into your pocket. It's more casual and vivid than 付钱 (fùqián, to pay). 自掏腰包 (zì tāo yāobāo, 'dig into one's own waist-bag') means to pay out of one's own pocket.

Stroke Order

掏 tāo
钱 qián