↶ Graded Readers

Gift money: a favor or a burden?

↶ Advanced reading practice

Gift money: a favor or a burden?

份子钱fèn zi qián是shì中国Zhōng guó人情rén qíng社会shè huì的de一yī种zhǒng传统chuán tǒng习俗xí sú,指zhǐ在zài婚礼hūn lǐ、满月mǎn yuè、乔迁qiáo qiān、丧礼sāng lǐ等děng重要zhòng yào场合chǎng hé中zhōng,亲朋好友qīn péng hǎo yǒu以yǐ现金xiàn jīn形式xíng shì表达biǎo dá祝福zhù fú。

古代gǔ dài,份子钱fèn zi qián多duō以yǐ实物shí wù为wéi主zhǔ,例如lì rú酒jiǔ、粮食liáng shi等děng,后来hòu lái逐渐zhú jiàn演变yǎn biàn为wéi现金xiàn jīn形式xíng shì,金额jīn é也yě随着suí zhe社会shè huì发展fā zhǎn逐zhú年nián增加zēng jiā。

份子钱fèn zi qián本来běn lái是shì一yī种zhǒng互助hù zhù方式fāng shì,能néng帮助bāng zhù新人xīn rén分担fēn dān婚礼hūn lǐ的de经济jīng jì压力yā lì,同时tóng shí也yě是shì一yī种zhǒng表达biǎo dá祝福zhù fú和hé增进zēng jìn关系guān xì的de方式fāng shì。

在zài熟人shú rén圈子quān zi中zhōng,份子钱fèn zi qián形成xíng chéng了le一yī种zhǒng动态dòng tài的de平衡píng héng:今天jīn tiān我wǒ随suí份子钱fèn zi qián,未来wèi lái我wǒ办bàn喜事xǐ shì时shí也yě会huì得到dé dào相应xiāng yìng的de回报huí bào,这zhè种zhǒng礼尚往来lǐ shàng wǎng lái维系wéi xì了le社会shè huì关系guān xì的de和谐hé xié。

随着suí zhe份子钱fèn zi qián金额jīn é的de增加zēng jiā,很多hěn duō人rén感到gǎn dào经济jīng jì压力yā lì。

根据gēn jù调查diào chá,大多数dà duō shù人rén在zài婚礼hūn lǐ上shàng选择xuǎn zé的de金额jīn é是shì500到dào1000元yuán,但dàn对于duì yú关系guān xì亲密qīn mì的de亲友qīn yǒu,金额jīn é可能kě néng高gāo达dá2000元yuán以上yǐ shàng。

特别tè bié是shì年轻nián qīng人rén,刚刚gāng gāng工作gōng zuò不bù久jiǔ,收入shōu rù有限yǒu xiàn,却què需要xū yào面对miàn duì各种gè zhǒng随suí礼lǐ的de“红色hóng sè炸弹zhà dàn”,这zhè让ràng他们tā men感到gǎn dào负担fù dān沉重chén zhòng。

另lìng一yī方面fāng miàn,收礼shōu lǐ的de一yī方fāng也yě未必wèi bì开心kāi xīn,因为yīn wèi“礼尚往来lǐ shàng wǎng lái”往往wǎng wǎng意味yì wèi着zhe将来jiāng lái需要xū yào加倍jiā bèi回huí赠zèng。

为了wèi le减轻jiǎn qīng经济jīng jì压力yā lì,一些yī xiē年轻nián qīng新人xīn rén选择xuǎn zé互hù免miǎn份子钱fèn zi qián,比如bǐ rú在zài请柬qǐng jiǎn上shàng声明shēng míng“不bù收礼shōu lǐ”,或者huò zhě用yòng“礼金lǐ jīn互hù免miǎn卡kǎ”代替dài tì现金xiàn jīn。

这zhè种zhǒng做法zuò fǎ让ràng婚礼hūn lǐ回归huí guī祝福zhù fú的de本意běn yì,也yě受到shòu dào越来越yuè lái yuè多duō人rén的de支持zhī chí。

据jù调查diào chá,85.55%的de人rén赞成zàn chéng互hù免miǎn份子钱fèn zi qián,50.29%的de人rén愿意yuàn yì取消qǔ xiāo这zhè一yī习俗xí sú。

份子钱fèn zi qián作为zuò wéi一yī种zhǒng传统chuán tǒng习俗xí sú,承载chéng zài了le人情rén qíng和hé祝福zhù fú的de意义yì yì,但dàn也yě带dài来lái了le不bù小xiǎo的de经济jīng jì压力yā lì。

在zài现代xiàn dài社会shè huì,随着suí zhe人们rén men观念guān niàn的de改变gǎi biàn和hé经济jīng jì情况qíng kuàng的de不同bù tóng,互hù免miǎn份子钱fèn zi qián正zhèng成为chéng wéi一yī种zhǒng新xīn的de趋势qū shì,让ràng人情rén qíng往来wǎng lái更加gèng jiā轻松qīng sōng简单jiǎn dān。

Hover a word for its pinyin & meaning; click to pin it.

Whole-text audio

narration saved locally, offline — from https://download.mandarinbean.com/audio?source=aHR0cHM6Ly90cmFmZmljLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vc2VjdXJlL2xlYXJuY2hpbmVzZS82MTM0Lm1wMw&filename=Gift-money-a-favor-or-a-burden.mp3&signature=8597ee39de4747ffe242bf0d2793aa11e62bef82d6c8212bceb6002e7e4e19bc

Vocabulary 172 words

ChinesePinyinEnglish
份子钱 fèn zi qiángift money (on the occasion of a wedding etc)
是 shìto be (followed by substantives only)
中国 Zhōng guóChina
人情 rén qínghuman emotions / social relationship; friendship / favor; a good turn
社会 shè huìsociety
的 depossessive particle (of; 's) / modifying particle (used after an attribute to modify a noun or to form a nominal expression)
一 yīone / single / a (article)
种 zhǒngclassifier for types, kinds, sorts
传统 chuán tǒngtraditional / conventional
习俗 xí súcustom / tradition / local tradition / convention
指 zhǐto point at or to / to indicate or refer to
在 zài(of sb or sth) to be (located) at
婚礼 hūn lǐwedding ceremony / wedding
满月 mǎn yuèthe full moon
乔迁 qiáo qiānto move (to a superior place)
丧礼 sāng lǐfuneral
等 děngand so on; etc.; et al. / (used to end an enumeration)
重要 zhòng yàoimportant; significant; major
场合 chǎng hésituation / occasion / context / setting / location / venue
中 zhōngwithin; among; in
亲朋好友 qīn péng hǎo yǒufriends and family / kith and kin
以 yǐby means of / according to / in order to / because of / at
现金 xiàn jīncash
形式 xíng shìouter appearance / form / shape / formality
表达 biǎo dáto express; to convey
祝福 zhù fúblessings
古代 gǔ dàiancient times
多 duōmany; much; more; a lot of
实物 shí wùmaterial object / concrete object / original object / in kind / object for practical use / definite thing / reality / matter (physics)
为 wéito take sth as / to act as / to serve as / to behave as / to become / to be / to do
主 zhǔmain
例如 lì rúfor example; for instance; such as
酒 jiǔwine (esp. rice wine) / liquor / spirits / alcoholic beverage
粮食 liáng shifoodstuff / cereals
后来 hòu láiafterwards; later
逐渐 zhú jiàngradually
演变 yǎn biànto develop; to evolve
金额 jīn ésum of money / monetary value
也 yěalso; too; as well; (not ...) either
随着 suí zhealong with / in the wake of / following
发展 fā zhǎndevelopment / growth
逐 zhúindividually / one by one
年 niányear
增加 zēng jiāto raise; to increase
本来 běn láioriginally / at first / of course
互助 hù zhùto help each other
方式 fāng shìway; method; manner; mode; pattern (of behavior etc)
能 néngcan / to be able to / might possibly
帮助 bāng zhùto help; to assist
新人 xīn rénnewcomer; new recruit; fresh talent / newlywed, esp. new bride / newlywed couple; bride and groom / (paleoanthropology) later-period Homo sapiens
分担 fēn dānto share (a burden, a cost, a responsibility)
经济 jīng jìeconomic
压力 yā lìpressure
同时 tóng shíat the same time; simultaneously
和 héand; together with
增进 zēng jìnto promote / to enhance / to further / to advance (a cause etc)
关系 guān xìrelation / relationship / guanxi
熟人 shú rénacquaintance / friend
圈子 quān zicircle / ring / (social) circle
形成 xíng chéngto form; to take shape
了 le(completed action marker) / (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now)
动态 dòng tàidynamic (science)
平衡 píng héngbalance / equilibrium
今天 jīn tiāntoday
我 wǒI; me; my
随 suíto follow / to comply with / to allow
未来 wèi láifuture / tomorrow
办 bànto take care of (a matter); to deal with (a task, procedure etc); to organize (an event) / to establish; to set up; to manage; to run (an enterprise) / (law) to handle; to investigate; to prosecute (a case or suspect)
喜事 xǐ shìhappy occasion / wedding
时 shíwhen
会 huìto be likely to; to be sure to
得到 dé dàoto get; to obtain; to receive
相应 xiāng yìnganswering (one another) / corresponding / relevant / appropriate
回报 huí bào(in) return / reciprocation / payback / retaliation
这 zhèthis; these
礼尚往来 lǐ shàng wǎng láilit. proper behavior is based on reciprocity (idiom) / fig. to return politeness for politeness
维系 wéi xìto maintain / to keep up / to hold together
和谐 hé xiéharmony
很多 hěn duōmany; a lot of
人 rénperson; people
感到 gǎn dàoto feel; to sense; to perceive
根据 gēn jùaccording to / based on
调查 diào cháinvestigation / inquiry / survey / (opinion) poll
大多数 dà duō shù(great) majority
上 shàng(noun suffix) on; above
选择 xuǎn zéto select; to pick
到 dàoto reach; to arrive / to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) / (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point)
元 yuáncurrency unit (esp. Chinese yuan) / era (of a reign) / (geology) eon
但 dànbut; yet; however; still
对于 duì yúregarding; as far as (sth) is concerned; with regard to
亲密 qīn mìintimate / close
亲友 qīn yǒufriends and relatives
可能 kě néngmight (happen) / maybe / perhaps
高 gāohigh / tall / above average / loud
达 dáto attain / to reach / to amount to / to communicate
以上 yǐ shàngthat level or higher; that amount or more
特别 tè biévery; especially; particularly / in particular
年轻 nián qīngyoung
刚刚 gāng gāngjust recently / just a moment ago
工作 gōng zuòto work / (of a machine) to operate
不 bùno; not so
久 jiǔ(of a period of time) long
收入 shōu rùincome / revenue
有限 yǒu xiànlimited; finite
却 quèbut / yet / however / while / nevertheless / even though
需要 xū yàoto need; to want; to demand; to require
面对 miàn duìto face; to confront
各种 gè zhǒngevery kind of; all kinds of; various
礼 lǐgift / rite / ceremony / propriety / etiquette / courtesy
红色 hóng sèred (color)
炸弹 zhà dànbomb
让 ràngto permit / to let sb do sth / to have sb do sth / to make sb (feel sad etc)
他们 tā menthey; them
负担 fù dānburden
沉重 chén zhòngheavy / hard / serious / critical
另 lìngother / another / separate
方面 fāng miànrespect / aspect / field / side
收礼 shōu lǐto accept a gift / to receive presents
方 fāngpower or involution (math.) / direction / side / party (to a contract, dispute etc) / place / method / prescription (medicine) / abbr. for square or cubic meter
未必 wèi bìnot necessarily / maybe not
开心 kāi xīnto feel happy / to rejoice / to have a great time
因为 yīn wèibecause; owing to; on account of
往往 wǎng wǎngusually / in many cases / more often than not
意味 yì wèito mean / to imply / to get a sense of
着 zheaspect particle indicating action in progress or ongoing state
将来 jiāng láiin the future
加倍 jiā bèito double / to redouble
回 huíto go back / to turn around / to answer / to return
赠 zèngto give as a present / to repel / to bestow an honorary title after death (old)
为了 wèi lefor; for the purpose of; in order to
减轻 jiǎn qīngto lighten / to ease / to alleviate
一些 yī xiēsome; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er
互 hùmutual
免 miǎnto excuse sb / to exempt / to remove or dismiss from office / to avoid / to avert / to escape / to be prohibited
比如 bǐ rúfor example; for instance; such as
请柬 qǐng jiǎninvitation card / written invitation
声明 shēng míngto state / to declare
或者 huò zhěor
用 yòngto use; to make use of; to employ / (coverb) with; using
礼金 lǐ jīnmonetary gift
卡 kǎ(loanword) card
代替 dài tìto replace; to take the place of
做法 zuò fǎway of handling sth / method for making / work method / recipe / practice
回归 huí guīto return to / to retreat
本意 běn yìoriginal idea / real intention / etymon
受到 shòu dàoto receive (praise, an education, punishment etc); to be ...ed (praised, educated, punished etc)
越来越 yuè lái yuèmore and more
支持 zhī chísupport / backing
据 jùaccording to
赞成 zàn chéngto approve / to endorse / (literary) to assist
愿意 yuàn yìto wish / to want / ready / willing (to do sth)
取消 qǔ xiāoto cancel; to call off; to revoke; to rescind
作为 zuò wéito act as / to view as / to look upon (sth as) / to take sth to be
承载 chéng zàito bear the weight / to sustain
意义 yì yìsense / meaning / significance / importance
带 dàito wear / to carry / to take along / to bear / to bring
来 láihither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker)
小 xiǎosmall / tiny / few
现代 xiàn dàimodern times / modern age / modern era
人们 rén menpeople
观念 guān niànnotion / thought / concept / sense / views / ideology / general impressions
改变 gǎi biànto change / to alter / to transform
情况 qíng kuàngcircumstances; state of affairs; situation
不同 bù tóngdifferent / distinct / not the same / not alike
正 zhèngexactly / just (at that time) / right (in that place)
成为 chéng wéito become; to turn into
新 xīnnew; newly
趋势 qū shìtrend; tendency
往来 wǎng láidealings / contacts
更加 gèng jiāmore (than sth else) / even more
轻松 qīng sōnglight / gentle / relaxed / effortless / uncomplicated
简单 jiǎn dānsimple; not complicated