掏钱

掏錢

tāoqián

verb HSK 7-9 #12,160

Meanings

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

Characters

to pull out; to dig out

Literally 'dig out money' — the physical gesture of reaching into a pocket or bag to pull out cash.

Examples

这顿饭谁掏钱？

Zhè dùn fàn shéi tāoqián?

Who's paying for this meal?

他不愿意自己掏钱。

Tā bú yuànyì zìjǐ tāoqián.

He doesn't want to pay out of his own pocket.

别让我每次都掏钱。

Bié ràngwǒ 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