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B1 noun/verb #4,500 most common 10 min read

拨款

bokuan Top 4,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 拨款 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 拨款 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '拨款' (bōkuǎn) often, but it's helpful to know it means 'giving money for a specific reason.' Think of it like a boss giving money to a worker to buy supplies for the office. In A1, we usually say '给钱' (gěiqián - give money). '拨款' is just a much more formal way of saying that. You might see it in very simple news headlines. For example, '政府给学校钱' (The government gives schools money) is A1 style. If you see '政府拨款给学校', just remember that '拨' (bō) is like 'moving' or 'sending' and '款' (kuǎn) is 'money'. It's a formal 'sending of money.' You won't use it in daily life with friends, but you might hear it on TV when they talk about helping people or building things. Just think: 拨 (move) + 款 (money) = Official money move.

At the A2 level, you are starting to learn about formal situations. '拨款' (bōkuǎn) is a word you will see when reading about the government or big companies. It's a 'verb-object' word. '拨' is the verb (to allocate) and '款' is the object (funds). You can use it in simple sentences like '公司拨款了' (The company allocated funds). At this level, you should notice that we don't use '个' (ge) with it; we use '笔' (bǐ). So, '一笔拨款' is one sum of money. You might use this word if you are writing a simple report about a school project or a charity. It's better than '给钱' because it shows you know the money is for a special purpose, not just a gift. Remember, it's usually from a big group (like a school, a company, or the government) to a smaller group or a project.

At the B1 level, you should be able to use '拨款' (bōkuǎn) in both writing and speaking about professional topics. This is the level where you discuss social issues, education, and work. You should understand that 拨款 can be a verb ('to allocate') and a noun ('allocation/funds'). For example, in a discussion about the environment, you could say '政府应该为环保拨款' (The government should allocate funds for environmental protection). You should also be careful not to confuse it with '贷款' (dàikuǎn - loan). A '拨款' is usually money you are given to use for a project and you don't pay it back to a bank. It is part of a budget. You will often see it with the word '用于' (yòngyú - used for), as in '这笔拨款用于购买新设备' (This allocation is used for buying new equipment). This is a key word for anyone taking the HSK 4 or HSK 5 exams.

At the B2 level, you should master the nuances of '拨款' (bōkuǎn) and its common collocations. You should know that it often appears in the form of '财政拨款' (cáizhèng bōkuǎn - fiscal appropriation) or '专项拨款' (zhuānxiàng bōkuǎn - special fund allocation). You can use it to describe complex economic or political situations. For instance, you might argue that '增加教育拨款是提高国民素质的关键' (Increasing education funding is key to improving the quality of the citizens). At this level, you should also be comfortable using it as a noun modified by complex clauses. You should also recognize its synonyms like '拨付' (bōfù) or '资助' (zīzhù) and know when to choose 拨款 for institutional contexts. Your ability to use this word correctly in an essay about government spending or corporate strategy is a hallmark of upper-intermediate proficiency.

At the C1 level, '拨款' (bōkuǎn) should be a natural part of your academic and professional lexicon. You should understand the bureaucratic processes it implies, such as '申请拨款' (applying for funding), '审批拨款' (approving funding), and '落实拨款' (implementing/ensuring the funding is delivered). You should be able to discuss the implications of '削减拨款' (cutting funds) on social stability or scientific progress using sophisticated sentence patterns. You should also be aware of the historical and legal connotations of the word in Chinese administrative law. For example, you might analyze how '地方政府的拨款机制' (local government allocation mechanisms) affect regional development. At this stage, you are expected to use the word with perfect register, avoiding it in informal speech while using it precisely in formal reports, speeches, and debates.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of '拨款' (bōkuǎn) and can use it in high-level discourse regarding fiscal policy, international aid, and legislative procedures. You can distinguish between '拨款' and more technical terms like '划拨' (huábō - to transfer/allocate specifically in accounting) or '拨付' (bōfù - the actual disbursement of funds). You can write professional policy briefs or academic papers in Chinese where 拨款 is used to describe the intricacies of '转移支付' (transfer payments) or '预算拨款' (budgetary appropriations). You understand the subtle rhetorical power of the word—how '增加拨款' can be used as a political promise or a strategic move in corporate negotiations. You can also interpret the word in classical-style modern prose or legal statutes where its meaning is strictly defined by the context of state power and financial management.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

拨款 in 30 Seconds

拨款 (bōkuǎn) is a formal word meaning to allocate or provide funds for a specific project or purpose, usually by an institution.
It functions as both a verb ('to allocate') and a noun ('allocation' or 'grant'), commonly used in government and business contexts.
It is a verb-object compound (离合词) consisting of 拨 (to move/allocate) and 款 (money/funds), often used with measure words like 笔.
Crucially, it differs from 贷款 (loan) because it usually refers to budgetary funds or grants that do not need to be repaid.

The Chinese word 拨款 (bōkuǎn) is a formal term primarily used in administrative, governmental, and academic contexts to describe the act of allocating or distributing financial resources for a specific purpose. Etymologically, it is composed of two characters: 拨 (bō), which means to push aside, move, or allocate, and 款 (kuǎn), which refers to a sum of money or a fund. Together, they form a verb-object compound that functions both as a verb (to allocate funds) and a noun (the allocation/grant itself). In the context of English speakers learning Chinese, this word is essential for discussing topics such as public policy, scientific research, infrastructure development, and corporate budgeting. It carries a sense of authority and formal procedure, distinguishing it from more casual words for giving money like 给钱 (gěiqián).

Grammatical Function: As a verb, 拨款 typically follows the pattern 'Subject + 拨款 + Purpose' or 'Subject + 拨款 + 给 (to) + Recipient'. As a noun, it is often preceded by measure words like 笔 (bǐ) or 项 (xiàng).

政府已经为这个环保项目拨款一亿元人民币。(The government has already allocated 100 million RMB for this environmental protection project.)

When people use 拨款, they are usually referring to a systematic and official transfer of funds. For instance, in an IELTS or TOEFL writing task regarding whether the government should spend money on the arts or health care, 拨款 is the precise term you would use to sound professional. It is not used for personal gifts or small, informal transactions. If a father gives his son money for a movie, he doesn't '拨款'; he simply '给' (gives). However, if a university board decides to provide a research grant to a professor, they '拨款'. This distinction is crucial for achieving a B1 or B2 level of proficiency, where register and nuance become increasingly important.

Common Contexts: 1. Government budgets for public services. 2. Corporate funding for R&D departments. 3. NGO grants for humanitarian aid. 4. Educational funding for schools and universities.

这笔拨款将用于改善农村地区的教育设施。(This allocation will be used to improve educational facilities in rural areas.)

Furthermore, the word implies a specific destination for the money. Unlike 'spending' (开支), which is a general term for money going out, 拨款 implies a deliberate 'pushing' of money toward a target. This makes it a very active and intentional verb. In bureaucratic Chinese, the process of 拨款 often involves several stages: 申请 (applying), 审批 (approving), and finally 拨款 (allocating). Understanding this workflow helps learners contextualize the word within the broader scope of Chinese institutional culture.

Measure Words: Use '一笔' (yì bǐ) for a single sum or '一项' (yí xiàng) when referring to the allocation as a project item.

董事会批准了一项新的科研拨款。(The board of directors approved a new research and development allocation.)

Using 拨款 correctly requires an understanding of its syntactic flexibility. It can function as the main verb of a sentence, a noun modified by adjectives or measure words, or part of a complex verbal phrase. Because it is a formal word, it often appears alongside other formal structures like '为...而...' (for the purpose of...) or '旨在...' (aimed at...).

Pattern 1: Verb Usage: Subject + (为/给) + Recipient/Purpose + 拨款. This is the most common way to express the action of allocating funds.

联合国向受灾地区拨款以提供紧急援助。(The United Nations allocated funds to the disaster-stricken areas to provide emergency aid.)

When used as a verb, you can specify the amount of money directly after 拨款 if it's treated as a single unit, or you can use the '拨款 + Amount' structure. However, it is more common to see '拨款 + [Amount] + 给 + [Recipient]'. For example: '政府拨款五百万给该学校' (The government allocated 5 million to the school). Note that 拨款 is a separable verb-object compound (离合词), meaning you can occasionally insert modifiers between 拨 and 款, though this is less common than in words like 睡觉 (shuìjiào).

Pattern 2: Noun Usage: [Modifier] + 的 + 拨款. Here, the word acts as the object of another verb like 申请 (apply for), 批准 (approve), or 接收 (receive).

由于缺乏政府拨款，这个项目被迫停止。(Due to a lack of government funding, this project was forced to stop.)

In the sentence above, 拨款 is the head noun of the phrase '政府拨款'. This is a very common structure in news headlines and academic papers. It allows the writer to discuss the funding as a concept or a concrete object rather than just an action. Another frequent noun use is '财政拨款' (fiscal appropriation), which is a standard term in economics and political science. If you are describing a situation where funding is cut, you would say '削减拨款' (xuējiǎn bōkuǎn).

Pattern 3: Passive Voice: Money/Funds + 被 + 拨款. While less common than active structures, this highlights the recipient or the destination of the funds.

这笔资金已经被拨款到了各个部门。(This sum of capital has already been allocated to various departments.)

Mastering these patterns allows you to move beyond simple 'SVO' sentences and create more sophisticated, native-sounding Chinese prose. Remember that 拨款 is inherently formal, so the surrounding vocabulary should match this level of formality. Avoid using slang or extremely informal particles like '嘛' or '呢' in the same sentence as 拨款 unless you are quoting someone or writing a specific type of dialogue.

You will encounter 拨款 in environments where official decisions about money are made. It is a staple of the 'News Broadcast' (新闻联播) style of Chinese, as well as business journalism. Understanding where this word appears helps you recognize the 'vibe' of the conversation—it is almost always serious and institutional.

1. Government and News Reports: When the National People's Congress meets or when local governments announce their annual budgets, 拨款 is the keyword. You will hear phrases like '加大拨款力度' (increase the intensity of funding) to signal that the government is prioritizing a certain sector like technology or education.

中央政府宣布将为乡村振兴计划专项拨款。(The central government announced a special allocation for the rural revitalization plan.)

In this context, 拨款 signifies the state's commitment to a policy. For an English speaker, this is equivalent to hearing words like 'appropriation' or 'budgetary allocation' on the BBC or CNN. It is a word that carries the weight of law and policy.

2. Academic and Research Settings: If you work in a university or a research institute in China, 拨款 is part of your daily professional vocabulary. Professors apply for '科研拨款' (scientific research grants). The success of a lab often depends on these allocations.

我们的实验室最近收到了一笔来自国家自然科学基金的拨款。(Our lab recently received an allocation from the National Natural Science Foundation.)

In the academic world, 拨款 is often synonymous with 'funding' or 'grants'. When discussing your work with colleagues, saying '我们拿到了拨款' (We got the funding) is a common way to express that a project can finally proceed.

3. Corporate and Non-Profit Organizations: Large corporations use 拨款 when moving money from the headquarters to a regional branch or a specific department. Similarly, NGOs use it when distributing donor funds to specific field projects.

总部已经向我们分公司拨款，用于市场推广。(Headquarters has allocated funds to our branch for marketing promotion.)

Lastly, you might see this word in legal documents or contracts. If a contract specifies that 'Party A shall allocate funds to Party B,' the term used will almost certainly be 拨款. It provides a level of legal clarity that '付款' (pay) or '交钱' (hand over money) lacks, as it implies the money is earmarked for a specific purpose defined in the agreement.

While 拨款 is a straightforward concept, English speakers often make mistakes regarding its register, its confusion with similar-sounding words, and its grammatical collocation. Understanding these pitfalls will help you use the word with the precision of a native speaker.

1. Confusing 拨款 (bōkuǎn) with 贷款 (dàikuǎn): This is the most frequent error. 拨款 means 'to allocate funds' (usually a grant or budget that does not need to be repaid), whereas 贷款 means 'to take out a loan' (money that must be repaid with interest). Using 贷款 when you mean 拨款 can lead to significant misunderstandings in a business or academic context.

Incorrect: 我向银行申请了一笔拨款买房子。(I applied for an 'allocation' from the bank to buy a house.)
Correct: 我向银行申请了一笔贷款买房子。(I applied for a 'loan' from the bank to buy a house.)

Remember: 拨款 is 'free' money (budgetary), 贷款 is 'borrowed' money.

2. Overusing it in Informal Situations: Because 拨款 is formal, using it when talking about personal finances sounds robotic or even sarcastic. If you tell a friend '我给我的猫拨款买零食' (I allocated funds for my cat to buy snacks), it sounds like you are treating your cat like a government department.

3. Confusing with 捐款 (juānkuǎn): 拨款 is an internal or official allocation. 捐款 is a 'donation' made by an individual or organization to a cause. While both involve giving money, 拨款 implies a formal budget process, while 捐款 implies charity.

他为慈善机构捐款。(He donated money to charity - Not 拨款.)

Finally, learners sometimes struggle with the measure word. While '个' (ge) is always a safe fallback, using '笔' (bǐ) or '项' (xiàng) is essential for sounding like an advanced speaker. Saying '一个拨款' is grammatically okay but sounds slightly 'foreign'. Aim for '这笔拨款' to demonstrate your mastery of Chinese collocations.

4. Incorrect Prepositions: Don't forget the '为' (for) or '向' (to/towards) when specifying the recipient. You '向' (toward) a recipient '拨款', or you '为' (for) a project '拨款'. Leaving these out can make the sentence feel disjointed.

To enrich your vocabulary, it is helpful to compare 拨款 with other terms related to financial distribution. Chinese has many specific words for 'giving money' depending on the source, the purpose, and the formality.

拨款 (bōkuǎn) vs. 资助 (zīzhù): 拨款 is about the act of moving funds from a budget. 资助 means 'to subsidize' or 'to provide financial aid'. 资助 focuses more on the support aspect and can be used for individuals (like a student receiving financial aid), whereas 拨款 is more about the institutional process.

拨款 (bōkuǎn) vs. 经费 (jīngfèi): 拨款 is the action or the specific sum allocated. 经费 refers to 'operating funds' or 'expenses' in general. You might say '我们的经费不够' (Our operating funds are insufficient) but '我们需要一笔拨款' (We need an allocation/grant).

Comparison:
1. 政府拨款 (The act of allocating).
2. 研究经费 (The money used for the research).

Another alternative is 补贴 (bǔtiē), which means 'subsidy' or 'allowance'. This is used when the money is meant to cover a specific cost or to compensate for something, like a 'housing subsidy' (住房补贴). Unlike 拨款, which can be for a whole new project, 补贴 is usually an addition to existing funds.

拨款 (bōkuǎn) vs. 投资 (tóuzī): 投资 means 'investment'. The key difference is the expectation of return. 拨款 is usually for a public good or a specific budget item where a direct financial profit isn't the primary goal. 投资 is done with the expectation of making more money back.

Finally, for very small amounts or informal settings, you might hear 打款 (dǎkuǎn). This is commonly used in e-commerce or when transferring money via apps like WeChat or Alipay. It literally means 'to hit/send the funds'. You would say '我已经打款了' to a seller, but you would never use 拨款 in that situation. Choosing the right word from this set shows that you understand the social and economic structures of China.

Summary Table:
- 拨款: Official/Budgetary
- 贷款: Loan (Pay back)
- 捐款: Donation (Charity)
- 投资: Investment (Profit)
- 补贴: Subsidy (Support)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '拨' (bō) contains the hand radical (扌), showing it was originally a physical action. Now, it's used for digital actions like '拨号' (dialing a phone) and financial actions like '拨款'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK bō kuǎn

US bō kuǎn

Primary stress is usually on the second syllable 'kuǎn' in common speech, though Mandarin syllables generally have equal weight.

Rhymes With

波 (bō) 拨 (bō) 播 (bō) 款 (kuǎn) 碗 (wǎn) 满 (mǎn) 短 (duǎn) 管 (guǎn)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'bō' with the 2nd tone (bó), which sounds like 'neck' or 'thin'.
Pronouncing 'kuǎn' with the 4th tone (kuàn), which isn't a standard word.
Confusing 'kuǎn' with 'guān' (official).
Failing to dip low enough on the 3rd tone of 'kuǎn'.
Treating it as a single unit without recognizing the 1st-3rd tone transition.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in news and formal documents; characters are moderately complex.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of formal measure words and collocations like '用于'.

Speaking 3/5

Used in professional settings; must distinguish from '贷款'.

Listening 3/5

Clear pronunciation but often appears in fast-paced news broadcasts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

钱 (money) 给 (give) 政府 (government) 项目 (project) 款 (sum/item)

Learn Next

审批 (approve) 落实 (implement) 预算 (budget) 财政 (finance) 资助 (subsidize)

Advanced

宏观调控 (macro-regulation) 转移支付 (transfer payment) 审计 (audit) 赤字 (deficit)

Grammar to Know

Separable Verbs (离合词)

拨了一笔款 (Allocated a sum of money).

Preposition '为' (for)

为项目拨款 (Allocate funds for the project).

Measure Word '笔' (bǐ)

一笔巨大的拨款 (A huge allocation).

Verb-Object as Noun

这笔拨款 (This allocation).

Resultative Complements

拨款到位了 (The allocation is in place).

Examples by Level

政府给学校拨款。

The government allocates funds to the school.

Simple SVO structure.

我们要拨款买书。

We need to allocate funds to buy books.

拨款 used as a verb with a purpose.

这笔拨款很多。

This allocation is a lot (of money).

拨款 as a noun with measure word 笔.

他收到了拨款。

He received the funding.

Simple past action.

公司拨款了吗？

Has the company allocated the funds?

Question form with 吗.

老师申请拨款。

The teacher applies for funding.

Subject + Verb (申请) + Object (拨款).

拨款还没到。

The funding hasn't arrived yet.

Negative sentence with 还没.

这里有一笔拨款。

There is an allocation here.

Existential sentence with 有.

公司为新项目拨款十万元。

The company allocated 100,000 yuan for the new project.

为 (for) + Project + 拨款 + Amount.

这笔拨款是用来买电脑的。

This funding is for buying computers.

是...用来...的 (is used for...).

政府决定增加教育拨款。

The government decided to increase education funding.

Verb (决定) + Verb phrase (增加教育拨款).

我们需要更多的拨款。

We need more funding.

拨款 as a noun modified by 更多.

校长正在讨论这笔拨款。

The principal is discussing this allocation.

Progressive aspect with 正在.

由于拨款不够，我们不能开工。

Because the funding is insufficient, we cannot start work.

Cause and effect with 由于...不能...

这笔拨款已经到账了。

This allocation has already reached the account.

到账 (dàozhàng) is a common collocation for money arrival.

他们向政府申请拨款。

They apply to the government for funding.

向 (toward) + Recipient + 申请.

该项拨款旨在支持贫困地区的医疗事业。

This allocation is aimed at supporting medical services in poor areas.

旨在 (zhǐzài) - aimed at; formal B1 grammar.

如果拨款不到位，项目可能会延期。

If the funding is not in place, the project might be delayed.

不到位 (búdàowèi) - not in place/not fully implemented.

董事会批准了三百万的科研拨款。

The board of directors approved 3 million in research funding.

批准 (pīzhǔn) - to approve.

这笔拨款必须专款专用。

This allocation must be used for its designated purpose only.

专款专用 (zhuānkuǎn zhuānyòng) - common idiom/rule.

政府每年都会为这个项目拨款。

The government allocates funds for this project every year.

每年都会 - showing habitual action.

拨款的数额取决于项目的规模。

The amount of funding depends on the scale of the project.

取决于 (qǔjué yú) - depends on.

我们需要透明地管理这笔拨款。

We need to manage this allocation transparently.

透明地 (tòumíng de) - transparently.

拨款程序非常复杂，需要多方审核。

The allocation process is very complex and requires multiple reviews.

程序 (chéngxù) - procedure.

财政拨款是该研究中心的主要经费来源。

Fiscal appropriation is the main source of funding for the research center.

主要经费来源 - main source of funds.

由于经济危机，政府被迫削减了艺术拨款。

Due to the economic crisis, the government was forced to cut arts funding.

削减 (xuējiǎn) - to cut/reduce.

我们应当合理分配每一笔拨款，确保效益最大化。

We should reasonably distribute every allocation to ensure maximum benefit.

效益最大化 - maximizing benefits.

该项拨款的落实情况将受到严格监督。

The implementation of this allocation will be strictly supervised.

落实 (luòshí) - implementation; 监督 (jiāndū) - supervision.

拨款金额虽然庞大，但对于庞大的需求来说仍是杯水车薪。

Although the funding amount is huge, it is still a drop in the bucket compared to the massive demand.

杯水车薪 (bēishuǐ-chēxīn) - idiom for an insufficient amount.

有关部门正在就拨款标准进行深入讨论。

Relevant departments are conducting in-depth discussions on allocation standards.

就...进行... (conducting... regarding...).

这笔拨款的延迟发放给实验室带来了极大不便。

The delayed disbursement of this allocation has caused great inconvenience to the lab.

延迟发放 - delayed disbursement.

通过增加研发拨款，公司成功实现了技术突破。

By increasing R&D funding, the company successfully achieved a technological breakthrough.

通过...实现... (through... achieving...).

政府通过定向拨款，精准扶持中小微企业发展。

The government provides targeted support for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises through specific allocations.

定向拨款 (dìngxiàng) - targeted allocation.

拨款机制的改革旨在提高财政资金的使用效率。

The reform of the allocation mechanism aims to improve the efficiency of using fiscal funds.

机制 (jīzhì) - mechanism; 改革 (gǎigé) - reform.

在拨款过程中，必须杜绝任何形式的挪用和贪污。

In the process of allocation, any form of embezzlement and corruption must be eliminated.

杜绝 (dùjué) - to put a stop to; 挪用 (nuóyòng) - to embezzle/misappropriate.

该项拨款能否到位，直接关系到民生工程的进度。

Whether this allocation can be delivered directly affects the progress of the livelihood project.

能否...直接关系到... (whether... directly relates to...).

专家建议建立多元化的拨款体系，减少对财政的依赖。

Experts suggest establishing a diversified allocation system to reduce dependence on the treasury.

多元化 (duōyuánhuà) - diversified.

拨款额度的设定应基于严谨的财务评估和实地调研。

The setting of the allocation quota should be based on rigorous financial evaluation and field research.

额度 (édù) - quota/limit.

对于违规使用拨款的行为，必须依法严惩。

Violations in the use of allocated funds must be severely punished according to the law.

违规 (wéiguī) - violation; 严惩 (yánchéng) - severe punishment.

这笔拨款的象征意义远大于其实际经济价值。

The symbolic significance of this allocation far outweighs its actual economic value.

象征意义 (xiàngzhēng yìyì) - symbolic meaning.

拨款法案在议会经过数轮博弈后，终于获得通过。

The appropriation bill was finally passed in parliament after several rounds of political maneuvering.

博弈 (bóyì) - maneuvering/gaming; 法案 (fǎ'àn) - bill.

政府债务规模的扩张，在一定程度上制约了公共财政的拨款能力。

The expansion of the government debt scale has, to some extent, restricted the allocation capacity of public finance.

制约 (zhìyuē) - to restrict/constrain.

拨款的透明度是衡量政府治理能力现代化水平的重要指标。

The transparency of allocations is an important indicator for measuring the level of modernization of government governance capabilities.

衡量 (héngliáng) - to measure; 指标 (zhǐbiāo) - indicator.

在全球化背景下，国际组织的拨款往往带有一定的政治附加条件。

In the context of globalization, allocations from international organizations often carry certain political conditions.

附加条件 (fùjiā tiáojiàn) - additional conditions/strings attached.

通过精细化拨款，政府实现了对战略性新兴产业的精准滴灌。

Through refined allocation, the government has achieved 'precision drip irrigation' (targeted support) for strategic emerging industries.

精准滴灌 (jīngzhǔn dīguàn) - metaphorical term for targeted financial support.

拨款权力的下放，旨在激发地方政府在经济建设中的主动性。

The decentralization of allocation power aims to stimulate the initiative of local governments in economic construction.

权力下放 (quánlì xiàfàng) - decentralization of power.

拨款的绩效评估机制若不完善，极易导致公共资源的巨大浪费。

If the performance evaluation mechanism for allocations is not perfect, it can easily lead to a huge waste of public resources.

绩效评估 (jìxiào pínggū) - performance evaluation.

在宏观经济调控中，拨款的节奏和力度需根据市场反馈灵活调整。

In macroeconomic regulation, the pace and intensity of allocations need to be flexibly adjusted based on market feedback.

宏观经济调控 (hóngguān jīngjì tiáokòng) - macroeconomic regulation.

Synonyms

资助经费补贴给付

Antonyms

扣款没收

Common Collocations

政府拨款

财政拨款

专项拨款

教育拨款

申请拨款

批准拨款

落实拨款

一笔拨款

拨款到位

削减拨款

Common Phrases

专款专用

— Funds must be used for their specific designated purpose and not diverted.

审计部门强调，这笔拨款必须做到专款专用。

加大拨款力度

— To increase the amount or intensity of financial allocation significantly.

政府承诺将加大对基础科学的拨款力度。

分批拨款

— To allocate funds in installments or stages rather than all at once.

由于项目周期长，公司决定采取分批拨款的方式。

拨款申请书

— A formal written application or proposal for funding.

你需要提交一份详细的拨款申请书。

无偿拨款

— A grant or allocation that does not require repayment or services in return.

这是来自国际慈善机构的无偿拨款。

地方拨款

— Funds allocated by a local or provincial government as opposed to the central one.

除了中央财政，该项目还依赖地方拨款。

追加拨款

— An additional allocation of funds beyond the original budget.

由于成本上升，项目组申请了追加拨款。

紧急拨款

— An immediate allocation of funds for a crisis or disaster.

政府为地震灾区启动了紧急拨款程序。

科研拨款

— Funds specifically allocated for scientific research and development.

科研拨款的竞争在学术界非常激烈。

审计拨款

— The process of auditing how allocated funds have been used.

每年的年底，财务部都会审计拨款的使用情况。

Often Confused With

拨款 vs 贷款

拨款 is a grant/budget; 贷款 is a loan that must be repaid.

拨款 vs 捐款

拨款 is an official allocation; 捐款 is a charitable donation.

拨款 vs 付款

拨款 is for a budget/purpose; 付款 is simply paying for a product or service.

Idioms & Expressions

"杯水车薪"

— A cup of water for a cartload of wood on fire; an utterly inadequate amount.

这笔拨款对于庞大的债务来说简直是杯水车薪。

Literary/Formal

"锦上添花"

— Adding flowers to brocade; making something already good even better.

这笔额外的拨款对我们来说真是锦上添花。

Positive/Formal

"雪中送炭"

— Sending charcoal in the snow; providing timely help in a crisis.

这笔紧急拨款真是雪中送炭，解决了我们的燃眉之急。

Positive/Common

"量入为出"

— To base one's spending on one's income; live within one's means.

政府在拨款时必须坚持量入为出的原则。

Formal/Economic

"开源节流"

— To open up new sources of income and cut down on expenses.

除了争取政府拨款，我们还要学会开源节流。

Formal/Business

"不翼而飞"

— To disappear without a trace; often used for missing funds.

原本应该到账的拨款竟然不翼而飞了。

Idiomatic/Suspicious

"挥金如土"

— To spend money like dirt; to be extremely wasteful.

我们不能在拨款的使用上挥金如土。

Critical/Informal

"坐吃山空"

— To sit and eat until the mountain is empty; to consume resources without producing.

如果没有持续的拨款，这个项目只会坐吃山空。

Cautionary

"精打细算"

— Careful calculation and strict budgeting.

这笔拨款有限，我们必须精打细算。

Positive/Common

"入不敷出"

— Income not meeting expenses; being in the red.

由于拨款减少，许多机构现在入不敷出。

Formal/Economic

Easily Confused

拨款 vs 资助

Both involve giving money.

拨款 is institutional/budgetary; 资助 is more about supporting an individual or specific need (aid).

政府拨款给大学；大学资助贫困生。

拨款 vs 经费

Both refer to money for a project.

拨款 is the act or specific sum; 经费 is the general fund for operation.

我们收到了拨款；我们的经费花完了。

拨款 vs 补贴

Both are 'extra' money.

补贴 is a subsidy or allowance to cover a cost gap; 拨款 is for a whole project or budget line.

政府给农民发放补贴；政府给农村建设拨款。

拨款 vs 拨款

Often confused with 拨付.

拨款 is the decision/allocation; 拨付 is the actual physical transfer of the money.

议会批准了拨款；财政部完成了拨付。

拨款 vs 奖学金

Both are money for students/scholars.

奖学金 is a scholarship for merit; 拨款 is the fund the university receives to pay for those scholarships.

这笔拨款将作为奖学金发放。

Sentence Patterns

S + 拨款。

政府拨款。

S + 为 + O + 拨款。

公司为新项目拨款。

S + 拨款 + Amount + 给 + O。

政府拨款一百万给学校。

这笔拨款 + 用于 + Purpose。

这笔拨款用于环保。

由于 + Reason，S + 削减/增加 + 拨款。

由于预算紧张，政府削减了拨款。

S + 旨在 + 通过 + 拨款 + V。

政府旨在通过拨款改善医疗。

拨款 + 的 + 落实情况 + V。

拨款的落实情况受到监督。

S + 针对 + O + 启动 + 专项拨款。

国家针对芯片产业启动了专项拨款。

Word Family

Nouns

拨款 (allocation)

款项 (sum of money)

公款 (public funds)

房款 (house payment)

Verbs

拨款 (to allocate)

拨付 (to disburse)

拨冗 (to spare time - formal)

拨打 (to dial/call)

Adjectives

专项的 (specialized)

财政的 (fiscal)

充足的 (ample)

预算 (budget)

经费 (funds)

补贴 (subsidy)

贷款 (loan)

资助 (financial aid)

How to Use It

frequency

High in news, business, and academic contexts; low in daily casual conversation.

Common Mistakes

我向银行拨款买车。 → 我向银行贷款买车。
You don't get a 'grant' from a bank for a car; you get a 'loan'.
政府给了一个拨款。 → 政府拨了一笔款 / 政府给了一笔拨款。
Use the correct measure word '笔' instead of '个'.
这笔拨款是我的工资。 → 这笔拨款是我的项目经费。
拨款 is for projects/purposes, not personal salary (工资).
他拨款给慈善机构。 → 他捐款给慈善机构。
Individuals 'donate' (捐款); they don't 'allocate' (拨款) unless they are an institution.
中央拨款了学校。 → 中央向学校拨款了。
Need the preposition '向' (to) or '为' (for) before the recipient.

Tips

Using the Separable Form

拨款 is a separable verb. You can say '拨了一笔款' (allocated a sum). This sounds very native.

Pair with '用于'

Whenever you use 拨款, try to follow it with '用于' (used for) to explain where the money is going. This completes the thought.

Register Matters

Use 拨款 in business emails or academic papers. Using it in a text to a friend might make you sound like a bureaucrat.

拨款 vs 贷款

Remember the first character: 拨 (bō) is to move/push; 贷 (dài) is to borrow. This will help you keep them straight.

IELTS/HSK Tip

In essays about 'Who should pay for X?', 拨款 is a high-scoring word to use instead of 'pay' or 'give money'.

The Dip

Make sure to emphasize the low dip in the 3rd tone of '款' (kuǎn). It's the key to being understood.

Formal Measure Words

Avoid '一个拨款'. Use '一笔拨款' to show you have a high level of Chinese.

Context Clues

In news, look for the word '中央' (central) or '地方' (local) before 拨款 to know which level of government is spending.

Hand Radical

The '扌' in 拨 reminds you that it's an action of 'moving' funds from one place to another.

Institutional Approval

In China, receiving a 拨款 is not just about the money; it's a sign that your project has 'official' support.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine your hand (扌) pushing aside (拨) a stack of money (款) to give it to someone who needs it for a project.

Visual Association

A government official with a long wooden stick (拨) pushing a golden coin (款) across a table toward a school building.

Word Web

Money Budget Government Allocation Grant Research Project Finance

Challenge

Try to use '拨款' in three different sentences today: one about a school, one about the government, and one about a big company.

Word Origin

The word is a combination of '拨' (bō) and '款' (kuǎn). '拨' originally meant to stir or move with a stick or finger, evolving to mean 'to set aside' or 'allocate'. '款' originally referred to an item in a list or a section of a law, which eventually specialized to mean 'a sum of money' or 'funds'.

Original meaning: To set aside a specific item of money from a larger pool.

Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese)

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing '拨款' in a way that implies corruption or '挪用' (misappropriation), as this is a sensitive political topic in China.

The term 'Appropriation' in the US Congress or 'Grant' in UK academia are the closest professional equivalents.

China's '985' and '211' project funding (major university allocations). The 'South-to-North Water Diversion' project budget. National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) grants.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Government Policy

加大拨款力度
财政拨款
专项拨款
拨款到位

Academic Research

科研拨款
申请拨款
经费充足
批准拨款

Corporate Finance

年度拨款
预算外拨款
追加拨款
分批拨款

Disaster Relief

紧急拨款
救灾拨款
无偿拨款
落实拨款

Education

教育拨款
助学拨款
改善设施拨款
拨款数额

Conversation Starters

"你觉得政府应该增加教育拨款吗？ (Do you think the government should increase education funding?)"

"你们公司的研发项目通常是怎么申请拨款的？ (How does your company usually apply for R&D funding?)"

"如果这笔拨款不到位，会对你的工作有什么影响？ (If this funding doesn't come through, how will it affect your work?)"

"你听说过‘专款专用’这个词吗？在你们国家也有类似的规定吗？ (Have you heard of 'specific funds for specific use'? Are there similar rules in your country?)"

"最近新闻里提到的那笔紧急拨款，你觉得够用吗？ (Do you think the emergency funding mentioned in the news recently is enough?)"

Journal Prompts

假如你是一个市长，你会优先为哪些项目拨款？为什么？ (If you were a mayor, which projects would you prioritize for funding? Why?)

描述一次你申请拨款或者经费的经历。 (Describe an experience where you applied for funding or expenses.)

讨论教育拨款对一个国家长期发展的重要性。 (Discuss the importance of education funding for a country's long-term development.)

如果你的个人生活也像政府一样有‘拨款’，你会如何分配你的工资？ (If your personal life had 'allocations' like a government, how would you distribute your salary?)

你认为拨款的透明度对防止贪污有多大作用？ (How much do you think the transparency of allocations helps in preventing corruption?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Technically, it sounds very formal and a bit funny. It's like saying 'My parents appropriated a budget for my snacks.' Use '给钱' instead.

拨款 is more about the 'move' of money from a budget (institutional). 资助 is about the 'support' provided (aid/subsidize). You 拨款 to a department, but you 资助 a student.

It is both. As a verb: '政府拨款了' (The government allocated funds). As a noun: '这是一笔拨款' (This is an allocation).

The most common measure word is '笔' (bǐ), like '一笔拨款'. You can also use '项' (xiàng) for a project-based allocation.

No, it can be from a company, a university, or an NGO. Any formal organization can 拨款.

It means the allocated funds have actually arrived in the bank account and are ready to be used.

No. Never. Use '贷款' (dàikuǎn) for loans. 拨款 is usually money that doesn't need to be paid back.

Yes, it is common in HSK 4, 5, and 6, especially in reading passages about society and science.

It is the specific term for 'fiscal appropriation' or money coming from the government's tax revenue.

You say '削减拨款' (xuējiǎn bōkuǎn).