岁俸

歲俸

suìfèng

noun

Meanings

1 annual salary
2 yearly stipend (esp. of an official in imperial China)

Characters

official salary; stipend

Examples

HSK 7-9

唐代官员的岁俸由朝廷统一发放。

Tángdài guānyuán de suìfèng yóu cháotíng tǒngyī fāfàng.

Tang-dynasty officials' annual stipends were issued by the imperial court.

HSK 7-9

他的岁俸不足以养活全家。

Tā de suìfèng bùzúyǐ yǎnghuó quánjiā.

His yearly salary was not enough to support the whole family.

Tips

history

岁俸 is a historical term: imperial Chinese officials received stipends measured in 石 (units of grain) per year. The Qing dynasty famously paid a top-rank 一品官 only 180 taels of silver per year, supplemented by 养廉银 'integrity-supporting silver' to discourage bribery.

register

Use 年薪 for modern annual salary. 岁俸 is reserved for historical writing or wuxia and court-drama settings.

Stroke Order

岁 suì

俸 fèng