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B2 noun #4,000 most common 10 min read

补助

buzhu Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 补助 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 补助 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word '补助' (bǔzhù) very often, but it's helpful to know it means 'extra money to help.' Think of it like when a teacher or a parent gives you a little bit of money for a specific thing, like lunch or a bus ticket. In Chinese, we call this 'help money.' You might see it on a sign at a school or a library. It is made of two parts: 'bǔ' (to fix or add) and 'zhù' (to help). So, it's money that 'adds help' to your life. Even at this basic level, remembering that 'zhù' means help will help you understand many other words later on.

At the A2 level, you can start to use '补助' (bǔzhù) to talk about small allowances or stipends. For example, if you are a student and you get some money from the school for food, you can call it 'meal allowance' (伙食补助 - huǒshí bǔzhù). You might also hear it when people talk about their jobs. Many jobs in China give a 'transportation allowance' (交通补助 - jiāotōng bǔzhù). It's a useful word for talking about money that isn't your main salary but is still very important for your daily expenses. You will usually see it paired with the verb '有' (yǒu - to have) or '给' (gěi - to give).

At the B1 level, you should understand that '补助' (bǔzhù) is a formal way to describe subsidies or grants. You will encounter it in news stories about the government helping people or in company benefit packages. It's important to distinguish it from '奖金' (jiǎngjīn - bonus). A bonus is for doing a good job, but '补助' is for a specific need, like traveling for work (出差补助) or living in an expensive city (住房补助). You should be able to use it in sentences like 'The government provides subsidies for farmers' or 'I applied for a living allowance.' You will also start to see it used as a verb, meaning 'to supplement.'

At the B2 level, '补助' (bǔzhù) is an essential term for discussing social issues, economics, and professional life. You should be comfortable using it in both its noun and verb forms. You should understand the nuances between '补助', '补贴' (bǔtiē), and '津贴' (jīntiē). For example, '补助' is often used for one-off grants or general assistance, while '补贴' is more common for ongoing price offsets. You should be able to discuss government policies, such as 'energy subsidies' or 'poverty alleviation grants,' using precise vocabulary. You should also know common collocations like '发放补助' (to issue a subsidy) and '申请补助' (to apply for a subsidy).

At the C1 level, you are expected to use '补助' (bǔzhù) with precision in formal, academic, or professional contexts. You should be able to analyze the impact of 'fiscal subsidies' (财政补助) on the economy or discuss the legal requirements for receiving 'disability benefits' (残疾补助). You will see this word in legal documents, economic reports, and high-level news analysis. You should also be familiar with more complex phrases like '专项补助' (special-purpose subsidy) or '差额补助' (differential subsidy). Your usage should reflect an understanding of the formal register, often pairing '补助' with sophisticated verbs like '拨付' (bōfù - to appropriate/allocate) or '惠及' (huìjí - to benefit).

At the C2 level, '补助' (bǔzhù) is a tool for nuanced discussion about socio-economic structures and public administration. You can use it to debate the merits of different subsidy models, such as 'cross-subsidization' or 'conditional cash transfers.' You understand the historical evolution of '补助' from the planned economy era to the modern market-oriented system. You can interpret subtle differences in official government documents where '补助' might be used to signal a specific type of state support versus a market intervention. Your mastery allows you to use the word in complex rhetorical structures, perhaps in a speech about social equity or a thesis on macro-economic policy.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

补助 in 30 Seconds

A formal term for financial subsidies or grants provided by organizations.
Commonly used for job-related allowances like travel or housing.
Used by governments to provide social welfare and disaster relief.
Can act as a verb meaning 'to supplement' or 'to help out financially'.

The Chinese word 补助 (bǔzhù) is a versatile noun and verb that primarily refers to financial assistance or subsidies provided to individuals or organizations to help them cover specific costs or to alleviate financial hardship. At its core, the character 补 (bǔ) means 'to mend,' 'to patch,' or 'to supplement,' while 助 (zhù) means 'to help' or 'to assist.' Together, they form a concept of 'supplementary assistance.' This isn't usually a full salary; rather, it's an extra amount of money meant to bridge a gap. Whether it's a government grant for low-income families, a housing allowance from a company, or a small stipend for students, 补助 is the go-to term for these types of financial buffers.

Government Context: In the realm of public policy, 补助 refers to subsidies like agricultural grants or poverty alleviation funds. It represents the state's effort to support specific sectors or demographics.
Corporate Context: Employees often receive 补助 for travel (差旅补助), meals (伙食补助), or housing (住房补助). These are perks that supplement the base pay.

政府向受灾农民发放了种子补助。(The government issued seed subsidies to the affected farmers.)

The nuance of 补助 lies in its 'supplementary' nature. If you are receiving a full scholarship that covers everything, you might use 奖学金 (scholarship), but if you receive a small monthly amount to help with living costs, 生活补助 (living allowance) is more appropriate. It is also common in academic research, where a researcher might receive a 科研补助 (research grant) to cover laboratory expenses. Understanding this word requires recognizing that it is usually 'extra' money provided for a specific purpose rather than general income.

由于他在偏远地区工作，公司每个月给他五百元的交通补助。(Because he works in a remote area, the company gives him a 500-yuan transportation allowance every month.)

Culturally, the concept of 补助 is deeply tied to the Chinese social welfare system and the 'Danwei' (work unit) culture. In the past, the work unit provided various types of 补助 for everything from childcare to heating. Today, while the system has modernized, the term remains essential for discussing social security, corporate benefits, and educational support. It carries a connotation of care and support from a higher authority or organization to an individual in need or someone performing a specific duty.

这些贫困学生申请到了政府的伙食补助。(These impoverished students applied for and received the government's meal allowance.)

Academic Usage: Used in formal reports to describe fiscal transfers or institutional financial support.

这项研究得到了国家自然科学基金的经费补助。(This research received funding assistance from the National Natural Science Foundation.)

失业者可以领取一定数额的失业补助金。(The unemployed can receive a certain amount of unemployment benefit.)

Using 补助 (bǔzhù) correctly involves understanding its role as both a noun (the subsidy itself) and occasionally as a verb (the act of subsidizing). However, its use as a noun is far more common in daily and formal Chinese. When using it as a noun, it often follows a specific category of expense, such as 住房补助 (housing subsidy), 交通补助 (transportation allowance), or 出差补助 (business trip allowance). The typical sentence structure involves a subject (an organization) providing or granting the 补助 to a recipient.

Common Verb Pairings

发放 (fāfàng): To distribute or issue. (政府发放补助)
申请 (shēnqǐng): To apply for. (申请生活补助)
领取 (lǐngqǔ): To receive or collect. (领取失业补助)
提供 (tígōng): To provide. (提供经费补助)

公司每个月给我们发放三百元的午餐补助。(The company issues us a 300-yuan lunch allowance every month.)

When 补助 is used as a verb, it means 'to supplement' or 'to help out financially.' For example, 补助家用 means 'to help with household expenses.' This usage is slightly more informal but still widely recognized. It implies that the amount given is not the main source of income but a helpful addition. In formal writing, you will see it in the context of government budgets, where the state 'subsidizes' local governments or specific industries to maintain economic stability or social equity.

他利用业余时间打工，以补助学费的不足。(He works part-time in his spare time to make up for the deficiency in his tuition fees.)

Another important aspect is the 'measure word.' Since 补助 usually refers to money, you use measure words like 一笔 (yì bǐ - a sum of) or 一份 (yí fèn - a portion of). For example, 一笔丰厚的补助 (a generous subsidy). When discussing the amount, you simply place the value before the word: 五千元的补助 (a 5,000-yuan subsidy). In the workplace, 补助 is usually calculated based on days or months, leading to phrases like 按天补助 (subsidized per day) or 按月补助 (subsidized per month).

由于经济困难，他向学校申请了一笔生活补助。(Due to financial difficulties, he applied to the school for a living allowance.)

Formal Patterns

给予...补助: To give a subsidy to...
获得...补助: To obtain/get a subsidy.
享受...补助: To enjoy (benefit from) a subsidy.

凡是符合条件的家庭，都可以享受政府的住房补助。(Any family that meets the criteria can enjoy the government's housing subsidy.)

为了鼓励创新，政府对高科技企业给予了大量的研发补助。(To encourage innovation, the government has given a large amount of R&D subsidies to high-tech enterprises.)

In daily life in China, 补助 (bǔzhù) is a word you will encounter in very specific, often administrative or financial, environments. It is not a word used for casual gifts between friends (that would be 红包 or 礼物). Instead, it belongs to the world of HR departments, government bureaus, and academic institutions. If you are working for a Chinese company, the most common place you'll hear it is during the recruitment process or when discussing benefits. An HR manager might say, "我们除了基本工资，还有交通补助和餐补" (In addition to basic salary, we have transportation and meal subsidies). Here, '餐补' (cānbǔ) is a common abbreviation for 餐饮补助.

The Workplace: Commonly heard in 'Benefits' (福利) discussions. It refers to non-salary cash perks that help with the cost of living or working.

如果你去外地出差，每天可以领到两百元的差旅补助。(If you go on a business trip out of town, you can receive a 200-yuan travel allowance per day.)

Another major setting is the news, especially reports on social welfare and poverty alleviation. China's 'Targeted Poverty Alleviation' (精准扶贫) campaign frequently uses 补助 to describe the funds given to rural households for building houses, buying livestock, or sending children to school. You might hear a news anchor report: "中央财政下拨了专项补助资金" (The central finance has allocated special subsidy funds). In this context, it sounds very formal and authoritative, signifying the government's role in distributing wealth and supporting the vulnerable.

寒假期间留在学校的学生可以申请伙食补助。(Students staying at school during the winter break can apply for a meal allowance.)

In the digital age, you'll also see this word on apps like Meituan or Ele.me, where platforms offer 'Red Packet Subsidies' (红包补助) or 'Merchant Subsidies' (商家补助) to lower the price for consumers. While 补贴 is more common here, 补助 is sometimes used to describe the financial support the platform gives to drivers or riders. If you are navigating a Chinese tax or social security app (like the 个人所得税 app), you will see sections for 'Special Additional Deductions' which are related to the concept of 补助 for childcare or elderly care. Understanding this word helps you navigate the practicalities of living and working in a Chinese-speaking environment.

政府决定对购买新能源汽车的消费者提供现金补助。(The government decided to provide cash subsidies to consumers who buy new energy vehicles.)

Social Context: Heard in community centers (社区) when discussing aid for the elderly or disabled.

社区为这些孤寡老人提供了生活补助。(The community provided living allowances for these elderly people living alone.)

因公受伤的员工可以领取一笔伤残补助金。(Employees injured on duty can receive a disability benefit payment.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with 补助 (bǔzhù) is confusing it with other similar terms like 补贴 (bǔtiē), 津贴 (jīntiē), and 奖金 (jiǎngjīn). While they all involve receiving money, the 'reason' and 'source' of the money differ. 奖金 is a 'bonus' given for good performance—it's a reward. 补助 is not a reward; it's a 'supplement' given based on need or specific circumstances (like traveling for work). If you tell your boss, "我想申请奖金" (I want to apply for a bonus) when you actually mean you want a 'travel allowance' (出差补助), you might sound overconfident or greedy!

补助 vs. 补贴: This is the hardest distinction. 补贴 is usually used for 'price offsets' (like fuel subsidies) or fixed monthly job-related costs. 补助 is broader and often refers to grants or one-off financial aid for difficulties.

Incorrect: 他的工作表现很好，所以公司给了他一笔补助。
Correct: 他的工作表现很好，所以公司给了他一笔奖金。(Use 'bonus' for performance!)

Another common error is using 补助 as a general word for 'charity' (慈善) or 'donation' (捐款). While 补助 is a form of help, it usually implies a formal relationship, like between a government and its citizens or an employer and an employee. You wouldn't say you gave a 'subsidy' to a homeless person on the street; you would say you gave a 'donation' or 'help' (帮助). 补助 usually follows a set of rules or criteria—you 'qualify' for a subsidy, you don't just receive it randomly.

Incorrect: 我补助了他一百块钱。(Sounds like you are a government agency.)
Correct: 我给了他一百块钱作为生活补助。(Better: I gave him 100 yuan as a living allowance.)

Lastly, don't confuse 补助 with 赔偿 (péicháng - compensation). If you break someone's window, you pay 赔偿. If you lose your job and the government gives you money to help you survive, that's 补助. 补助 is proactive or supportive, while 赔偿 is reactive and corrective. In legal or insurance contexts, using the wrong word can lead to significant misunderstandings about who is at fault and why money is being exchanged.

由于航班取消，航空公司给了乘客一些食宿补助。(Because the flight was canceled, the airline gave passengers some accommodation subsidies.)

Register Errors: Using 补助 in very casual settings with friends can sound overly formal or even sarcastic. Stick to 帮 (help) or 给钱 (give money) for informal help.

政府对低收入家庭发放了冬季取暖补助。(The government issued winter heating subsidies to low-income families.)

他在创业初期得到了一笔政府创业补助。(He received a government startup grant in the early stages of his business.)

To truly master 补助 (bǔzhù), you must compare it with its close synonyms. The most common alternative is 补贴 (bǔtiē). While often interchangeable, 补贴 is more frequently used for 'adjusting' or 'offsetting' costs. For example, if the price of pork rises, the government might issue a 肉食补贴 (meat subsidy) to the public. 补助 is more about 'assisting' the person or project. Think of 补贴 as 'price support' and 补助 as 'financial aid.'

津贴 (jīntiē) vs. 补助: 津贴 is almost exclusively used in the workplace for allowances related to special duties or hardships, like a 'high-temperature allowance' (高温津贴) for workers in the sun. 补助 is much broader and can be used for non-work contexts like disaster relief.
救济 (jiùjì) vs. 补助: 救济 means 'relief' or 'emergency aid.' It is used in extreme situations like famine or earthquake. 补助 is more routine and less desperate than 救济.

政府的农业补助政策极大地提高了农民的生产积极性。(The government's agricultural subsidy policy has greatly improved farmers' production enthusiasm.)

Another word to consider is 拨款 (bōkuǎn), which means 'to allocate funds.' This is a verb-object construction often used for large-scale government or corporate funding. While a 补助 is the 'what' (the money itself), 拨款 is the 'how' (the act of moving the money). You might say, "政府拨款一亿元用于贫困补助" (The government allocated 100 million yuan for poverty subsidies). Additionally, 资助 (zīzhù) is a verb meaning 'to sponsor' or 'to provide financial aid,' often used in the context of education or charity, like 资助贫困学生 (sponsoring poor students).

对于那些没有收入的残疾人，政府每月发放生活补助。(For those disabled people with no income, the government issues a monthly living allowance.)

In business, you might also hear 报销 (bàoxiāo), which means 'to reimburse.' This is different from 补助 because 报销 requires you to spend the money first and show a receipt (发票). A 补助 is often a fixed amount given regardless of the actual receipt, though policies vary. For example, a 'daily meal allowance' of 50 yuan is a 补助; getting back the exact 48.50 yuan you spent on lunch by showing a receipt is 报销.

这家公司为员工提供免费医疗，并对药费给予一定的补助。(The company provides free medical care for employees and gives a certain subsidy for medicine costs.)

除了基本工资，他还领取一份特殊的岗位补助。(In addition to his basic salary, he also receives a special post allowance.)

由于受到自然灾害的影响，当地政府决定发放救灾补助。(Due to the impact of natural disasters, the local government decided to issue disaster relief subsidies.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In the past, '补' was primarily about clothes. Today, it's most commonly used for money (补助) and education (补习 - extra classes).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /buː ˈdʒuː/

US /buː ˈdʒuː/

In Mandarin, the stress is balanced, but the 4th tone on 'zhu' makes it sound more forceful than the 3rd tone on 'bu'.

Rhymes With

补助 (bǔzhù) rhymes with: 居住 (jūzhù) 自助 (zìzhù) 互助 (hùzhù) 求助 (qiúzhù) 赞助 (zànzhù) 协助 (xiézhù) 备注 (bèizhù) 柱 (zhù)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'zhu' like 'zu' (no 'h' sound).
Mixing up the tones (saying bǔzhù instead of bùzhù or other variants).
Pronouncing 'bu' like 'byu'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The word is common in newspapers and formal documents, but easy to recognize once learned.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of the 'clothing' radical in '补' and the structure of '助'.

Speaking 3/5

Tones (3rd and 4th) are distinct, but the 'zh' sound can be tricky for some learners.

Listening 3/5

Clearly articulated in formal news, but might be shortened to '补' in casual speech (e.g., 餐补).

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

钱 (qián) 帮 (bāng) 给 (gěi) 政府 (zhèngfǔ) 公司 (gōngsī)

Learn Next

补贴 (bǔtiē) 津贴 (jīntiē) 福利 (fúlì) 保险 (bǎoxiǎn) 税 (shuì)

Advanced

财政拨付 (cáizhèng bōfù) 转移支付 (zhuǎnyí zhīfù) 宏观调控 (hóngguān tiáokòng)

Grammar to Know

The '为/给...提供...' structure

政府为受灾群众提供补助。

Measure words for money/grants (笔, 份)

他领到了一笔丰厚的补助。

Verb-Object compounds used as nouns

生活补助 (Living allowance) where '生活' describes the '补助'.

Purpose particle '以' (in order to)

他打工以补助学费。

Conditional '如果...就...' with fiscal terms

如果没有补助，项目就无法进行。

Examples by Level

学校给我伙食补助。

The school gives me a meal allowance.

Simple Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object structure.

我有交通补助。

I have a transportation allowance.

Uses '有' to show possession of the allowance.

他需要补助。

He needs a subsidy.

Simple 'Subject + Verb + Object' sentence.

政府给钱补助他。

The government gives money to subsidize him.

Here '补助' acts as a verb meaning 'to help financially'.

这是你的补助。

This is your allowance.

Demonstrative pronoun '这是' used with a noun.

补助不多。

The allowance is not much.

Adjective '不多' describing the noun.

老师有补助吗？

Does the teacher have an allowance?

Simple question using the particle '吗'.

我喜欢这个补助。

I like this subsidy.

Expressing a preference for the financial help.

公司每月发交通补助。

The company issues transportation allowances every month.

Time adverb '每月' placed before the verb '发'.

他在申请生活补助。

He is applying for a living allowance.

Continuous aspect '在' plus the verb '申请'.

这份补助对我很重要。

This allowance is very important to me.

The structure '对...很重要' (is important to...).

农民可以得到种子补助。

Farmers can get seed subsidies.

Modal verb '可以' showing possibility or permission.

你领到补助了吗？

Have you received the allowance?

Verb '领到' (receive/collect) with the completed action marker '了'.

我们要发放冬季补助。

We are going to issue winter subsidies.

'要' indicates a future action or intention.

这笔补助是给学生的。

This subsidy is for students.

The '是...的' structure used for emphasis.

他用补助买了一本书。

He used the allowance to buy a book.

The '用...做...' (use... to do...) structure.

政府为受灾群众提供临时补助。

The government provides temporary subsidies for disaster-affected people.

Preposition '为' used to indicate the beneficiary.

出差期间，每天有两百元补助。

During the business trip, there is a 200-yuan allowance per day.

Time phrase '出差期间' setting the context.

他靠打零工来补助学费。

He relies on part-time jobs to supplement his tuition.

The verb '补助' here means 'to supplement/offset'.

公司取消了午餐补助。

The company canceled the lunch allowance.

Verb '取消' (to cancel) acting on the noun '补助'.

你可以申请国家科研补助。

You can apply for a national research grant.

Specific noun phrase '国家科研补助'.

这笔补助金已经到账了。

This subsidy money has already arrived in the account.

Business term '到账' meaning funds have been credited.

他因为表现出色获得了特殊补助。

He received a special allowance because of his excellent performance.

Conjunction '因为' explaining the reason for the grant.

这些补助有助于缓解经济压力。

These subsidies help to relieve economic pressure.

The phrase '有助于' (be helpful for/contribute to).

政府决定加大对小型企业的补助力度。

The government decided to increase the intensity of subsidies for small businesses.

The noun phrase '补助力度' (subsidy intensity/amount).

符合条件的申请人将获得住房补助。

Eligible applicants will receive housing subsidies.

Formal phrase '符合条件的申请人' (eligible applicants).

公司对派往海外工作的员工给予高额补助。

The company gives high allowances to employees sent to work overseas.

Verb '给予' (to give/grant) used in a formal context.

这笔资金是作为失业补助发放的。

This fund was issued as an unemployment benefit.

The '作为...发放' (issued as...) construction.

他利用业余时间兼职以补助家用。

He uses his spare time to work part-time to help with household expenses.

The purpose particle '以' (in order to).

该项目获得了省政府的专项补助。

The project received a special-purpose subsidy from the provincial government.

Noun phrase '专项补助' (special-purpose grant).

如果没有政府的补助，这家工厂很难维持下去。

Without government subsidies, it would be hard for this factory to keep going.

Conditional '如果...就/很难' structure.

他在会上提出了增加交通补助的建议。

He proposed an increase in transportation allowances at the meeting.

Verb-object '提出...建议' (propose a suggestion).

财政补助政策的调整引起了广泛关注。

The adjustment of the fiscal subsidy policy has attracted widespread attention.

Complex subject '财政补助政策的调整'.

中央财政拨付了巨额补助资金用于环境保护。

The central finance allocated a huge amount of subsidy funds for environmental protection.

Formal verb '拨付' (to allocate/appropriate).

该项补助旨在缩小城乡收入差距。

This subsidy aims to narrow the income gap between urban and rural areas.

Formal word '旨在' (aims at/is intended to).

企业应合理利用政府提供的研发补助。

Enterprises should reasonably utilize the R&D subsidies provided by the government.

Adverb '合理' (reasonably/properly) modifying '利用'.

这些补助金将直接发放到受援者的银行卡中。

These subsidies will be issued directly to the recipients' bank cards.

The use of '受援者' (recipient/aid-receiver).

法律规定了领取残疾补助的具体程序。

The law stipulates the specific procedures for receiving disability benefits.

Verb '规定' (to stipulate/prescribe) used with '程序' (procedure).

政府通过价格补助来稳定基本生活物资的供应。

The government uses price subsidies to stabilize the supply of basic living materials.

The phrase '通过...来...' (through... to...).

该地区的经济增长在很大程度上依赖于政府补助。

The economic growth of the region depends to a large extent on government subsidies.

The phrase '在很大程度上' (to a large extent).

过度依赖补助可能会削弱企业的市场竞争意识。

Over-reliance on subsidies may weaken the market competition awareness of enterprises.

Abstract concept '市场竞争意识'.

政府应当建立健全科学的补助评价体系。

The government should establish and improve a scientific subsidy evaluation system.

Formal idiom '建立健全' (establish and improve).

关于农业补助的分配问题，各方仍存在争议。

Regarding the distribution of agricultural subsidies, there are still disputes among all parties.

Formal preposition '关于' (regarding/concerning).

出口补助往往会导致国际贸易摩擦。

Export subsidies often lead to international trade frictions.

Economic term '出口补助' (export subsidy).

该政策通过差异化的补助标准来引导产业升级。

The policy guides industrial upgrading through differentiated subsidy standards.

Sophisticated term '差异化' (differentiated).

补助资金的挪用行为将受到法律的严厉制裁。

The embezzlement of subsidy funds will be subject to severe legal sanctions.

Legal term '挪用' (embezzle) and '制裁' (sanction).

在财政收支平衡的压力下，政府不得不削减部分补助。

Under the pressure of balancing fiscal revenue and expenditure, the government had to cut some subsidies.

The '不得不' (have no choice but to) structure.

补助的透明度是确保社会公平正义的关键。

The transparency of subsidies is key to ensuring social fairness and justice.

Abstract nouns '透明度' (transparency) and '公平正义' (fairness and justice).

Synonyms

津贴补贴资助救济金

Antonyms

税收罚款

Common Collocations

发放补助

申请补助

住房补助

交通补助

生活补助

伙食补助

专项补助

财政补助

领取补助

给予补助

Common Phrases

差旅补助

— Allowance for business travel expenses.

出差的差旅补助包括车费和住宿费。

失业补助

— Unemployment benefit given to those without jobs.

他在失业期间靠补助生活。

科研补助

— Research grant or stipend for academic work.

教授为实验室的研究生提供了科研补助。

高温补助

— Extra pay for working in high temperatures.

建筑工人在夏天可以领到高温补助。

独生子女补助

— A historical allowance for families with only one child.

他们家领了多年的独生子女补助。

医疗补助

— Financial help for medical treatments or insurance.

低保户可以享受国家医疗补助。

节日补助

— Bonus or allowance given during holidays like Lunar New Year.

公司春节期间发了节日补助。

伤残补助

— Disability benefit for those injured or disabled.

他因工伤获得了一笔伤残补助。

书本补助

— Allowance for students to buy textbooks.

贫困生可以申请每年的书本补助。

住房公积金补助

— Subsidies related to the housing provident fund.

部分单位会提供额外的住房公积金补助。

Often Confused With

补助 vs 补贴

补贴 is often for price adjustments; 补助 is for general financial aid.

补助 vs 津贴

津贴 is strictly for job-related duties/hardships.

补助 vs 奖金

奖金 is a reward for good work; 补助 is for a specific need.

Idioms & Expressions

"补助家用"

— To help with household expenses.

她晚上去做兼职以补助家用。

Common

"勤工俭学"

— Part-time work and study; often related to getting a '补助' through work.

他通过勤工俭学来补助生活费。

Academic

"雪中送炭"

— To send charcoal in snowy weather; providing help when it's most needed (like a timely subsidy).

政府的补助对他来说真是雪中送炭。

Literary

"济困扶危"

— To help the poor and those in danger.

这项补助政策的初衷是济困扶危。

Formal

"杯水车薪"

— A cup of water for a cartload of firewood; an inadequate amount (often used if a subsidy is too small).

这点补助对于他的巨额债务来说只是杯水车薪。

Literary

"锦上添花"

— Adding flowers to brocade; making something good even better (unlike a subsidy which is usually for a need).

这笔奖金对他来说只是锦上添花，不是生活补助。

Literary

"博施济众"

— To give extensively to help the people.

政府应当博施济众，增加社会补助。

Archaic/Formal

"量入为出"

— To spend according to income; related to managing subsidies.

即使有补助，也要量入为出。

Common

"损有余补不足"

— To take from the surplus to make up for the deficit; the logic behind subsidies.

财政补助的本质是损有余补不足。

Formal

"救急不救穷"

— Help the urgent need but not the chronic poverty; a common philosophy regarding temporary subsidies.

这种补助只能是救急不救穷。

Colloquial

Easily Confused

补助 vs 赔偿

Both involve receiving money.

赔偿 is for loss or damage (compensation); 补助 is for support (subsidy).

航空公司赔偿了丢失的行李，并给了餐食补助。

补助 vs 报销

Both relate to work expenses.

报销 is refunding exact spent amounts with receipts; 补助 is a fixed grant.

车费可以报销，但出差补助是固定的。

补助 vs 捐款

Both are forms of financial help.

捐款 is a voluntary donation (charity); 补助 is usually formal/institutional.

他把得到的政府补助捐款给了灾区。

补助 vs 薪水

Both are money from an employer.

薪水 is base pay for work; 补助 is an extra benefit.

我的薪水不高，但补助很多。

补助 vs 拨款

Both involve government funds.

拨款 is the act of moving funds; 补助 is the purpose of the funds.

政府拨款一亿元作为科研补助。

Sentence Patterns

S + 给 + O + 补助

老板给我补助。

S + 申请 + [Type] + 补助

我申请了生活补助。

S + 向 + [Org] + 申请 + 补助

他向政府申请了住房补助。

S + 享受 + ...补助

残疾人可以享受政府补助。

[Org] + 拨付 + 专项补助资金

教育部拨付了专项补助资金。

给予 + [Recipient] + ...的补助

给予困难家庭一定的补助。

补助 + [Noun Phrase] + 的不足

这些资金补助了预算的不足。

建立 + ...补助机制

国家建立了农业补助机制。

Word Family

Nouns

补助金 (bǔzhùjīn) - subsidy money

补助费 (bǔzhùfèi) - subsidy fee

Verbs

补助 (bǔzhù) - to subsidize/supplement

辅助 (fǔzhù) - to assist/auxiliary

Adjectives

补助性的 (bǔzhùxìng de) - subsidiary/supplementary

帮助 (bāngzhù) - help

补充 (bǔchōng) - supplement

助理 (zhùlǐ) - assistant

弥补 (míbǔ) - make up for

补贴 (bǔtiē) - subsidy

How to Use It

frequency

Common in administrative, professional, and news contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using 补助 instead of 奖金 → 奖金 (jiǎngjīn)
A bonus for good performance is a '奖金'. A '补助' is an allowance for a need.
Saying '给补助' in a formal report → 给予补助 (jǐyǔ bǔzhù)
‘给予’ is the formal verb for 'to give' in administrative contexts.
Confusing 补助 with 赔偿 → 赔偿 (péicháng)
‘赔偿’ is for damages or loss. ‘补助’ is for support.
Writing 补 with the wrong radical → 补 (衤 radical)
Many students use the 礻 radical. Remember it's about clothing (patching clothes), so use 衤.
Using 补助 for a casual gift of money → 红包 (hóngbāo) or 钱
‘补助’ is institutional. Giving money to a friend is just giving money.

Tips

Remember the 'Help' Radical

The character '助' (zhù) is your key. Any time you see it, think of 'assistance'. This will help you remember that '补助' is a form of financial assistance.

Noun vs Verb

While '补助' can be a verb, using it as a noun (e.g., '发放补助') is safer and more common in professional Chinese.

Corporate Benefits

When looking for a job in China, always ask about the '补助' (allowances) as they can significantly increase your take-home pay beyond the base salary.

Formal Verbs

Pair '补助' with formal verbs like '申请' (apply), '领取' (receive), and '发放' (issue) to sound like a native speaker.

Key Prefixes

Listen for one-syllable prefixes like '房' (housing), '餐' (meal), or '车' (car) before '补' to understand the specific type of allowance.

Poverty Alleviation

In news about China's development, '补助' is a keyword. It shows how the government redistributes wealth to rural areas.

Subsidy vs Bonus

Never use '补助' for a performance reward. That's '奖金'. '补助' is for meeting a need or covering a cost.

Tone Clarity

The 3rd tone on 'bǔ' and 4th tone on 'zhù' create a distinct falling-rising-falling rhythm. Practice this to avoid sounding flat.

Measure Words

Use '一笔' (yì bǐ) for a sum of subsidy money. It sounds much more professional than just saying '一个补助'.

The Patch Mnemonic

Think of '补' as a patch. A subsidy 'patches' the holes in your budget. This visual will help you remember the meaning.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Bu' as 'Buy' and 'Zhu' as 'Juice'. You get a 'subsidy' to 'Buy Juice' when you are thirsty and have no money. Or: 'Bu' (Patch) + 'Zhu' (Help) = A patch of help for your wallet.

Visual Association

Imagine a pair of jeans with a hole (your budget) and someone putting a gold-colored patch (the subsidy) over it to fix it.

Word Web

Money Government Help Allowance Grant Work Benefit Gap

Challenge

Try to find three different types of '补助' mentioned in a Chinese news article or a company's 'Benefits' page.

Word Origin

The word is composed of two ancient Chinese characters. '补' (bǔ) originally depicted clothing being mended with a patch (indicated by the '衣' clothing radical on the left). '助' (zhù) consists of '且' (a stand or altar) and '力' (strength/power), signifying 'adding strength' to a situation.

Original meaning: To mend a gap and provide strength; to supplement what is missing.

Sino-Tibetan / Sinitic

Cultural Context

When discussing '补助', be sensitive to the fact that it often implies financial need. In some contexts, receiving a '补助' might carry a slight social stigma of being 'in need', though corporate allowances are seen as prestige perks.

In English, we often use 'stipend' for students, 'grant' for research, and 'allowance' for kids or travel. Chinese uses '补助' for all of these, making it more versatile.

China's 'Targeted Poverty Alleviation' (精准扶贫) policy reports. Employment contracts in major Chinese tech firms like Alibaba or Tencent. University financial aid handbooks.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Job Offer

交通补助是多少？
有住房补助吗？
伙食补助怎么算？
包含各项补助。

University Life

申请生活补助
领取科研补助
助学金和补助
贫困生补助

Government News

发放扶贫补助
财政补助资金
享受政府补助
提高补助标准

Travel Expenses

差旅补助标准
按天计算补助
报销还是补助？
出差补助申请表

Disaster Relief

发放救灾补助
临时生活补助
申请补助金
灾民补助政策

Conversation Starters

"听说你们公司出差补助挺高的？"

"你申请到这学期的生活补助了吗？"

"政府最近对新能源车有补助吗？"

"我想了解一下关于住房补助的政策。"

"这些补助对缓解你的经济压力有帮助吗？"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你申请或者领取补助的经历。当时的心情如何？

你认为政府应该给哪些人发放补助？为什么？

如果你是一家公司的老板，你会给员工提供哪些补助？

讨论一下补助对社会公平的影响。

比较一下你国家和中国的补助政策有什么不同。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

虽然在很多情况下可以通用，但‘补贴’更多用于补偿因价格上涨带来的损失（如油价补贴），而‘补助’更多指对个人或机构的经济资助或津贴（如生活补助）。

可以。中国的大学通常有‘助学金’和各种‘生活补助’，专门发给经济困难的学生。

可以。例如‘补助家用’（help with household expenses）或‘补助学费的不足’。但在正式公文中，它更常作为名词出现。

通常包含交通费、伙食费和住宿费的固定津贴。具体标准取决于公司的财务政策。

失业者需要去当地的人力资源和社会保障局申请‘失业补助金’，通常需要提供失业证明。

这取决于补助的性质。根据中国法律，某些政府发放的福利性补助是免税的，但公司发放的某些补助可能需要并入工资计算个人所得税。

‘餐补’是‘餐饮补助’（meal allowance）的缩写，是公司给员工提供的伙食补贴。

政府通常为了鼓励特定行业的发展（如高科技或绿色能源）或者为了在经济困难时期保护就业而向企业提供补助。

‘专项补助’（Special-purpose subsidy）是指专门指定用于某一特定项目或用途的资金，不能挪作他用。

如果是政府或公司发错了，通常需要联系发放部门进行核实并退回多发的金额，否则可能涉及违法。