Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== yǎnglǎojīn: 养老金 - Pension, Retirement Fund ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** yanglaojīn, 养老金, what is pension in Chinese, China retirement fund, Chinese pension system, how to say pension in Chinese, social security in China, Chinese retirement benefits, old-age pension, superannuation. * **Summary:** 养老金 (yǎnglǎojīn) is the Chinese word for "pension" or "retirement fund." It refers to the money received by an individual after retiring from work, typically managed through a state and employer contribution system. Understanding 养老金 is essential for anyone working in China or interested in its modern society, as it reflects a massive cultural shift from traditional family-based elder care to a modern social security system, a topic of constant discussion as China's population ages. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yǎnglǎojīn * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 * **Concise Definition:** A sum of money paid regularly to a person who has retired from work. * **In a Nutshell:** 养老金 literally translates to "support-old-age-money." It's the financial pillar of retirement in modern China, much like a pension, 401(k), or superannuation in Western countries. It's the formal, institutionalized system for ensuring financial security in one's later years, representing a critical component of China's social welfare system, known as 社保 (shèbǎo). ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **养 (yǎng):** To provide for, to raise, to support, to nurture. Think of providing food and care for a child, a pet, or an elder. * **老 (lǎo):** Old, elderly, aged. A very common character referring to the later stages of life. * **金 (jīn):** Gold, money, fund. This character signifies the financial nature of the support. These three characters combine transparently to mean "money to support the elderly," making 养老金 a very logical term for a pension. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The concept of 养老金 is deeply significant in modern China because it stands at the crossroads of tradition and modernity. Historically, the responsibility of caring for the elderly fell entirely on their children, a concept encapsulated by the proverb **[[养儿防老]] (yǎng ér fáng lǎo)** - "raise children to provide for old age." This was a cornerstone of Confucian filial piety (孝, xiào), where supporting one's parents was a sacred duty. The Western concept of a "pension" is a relatively straightforward financial tool. In contrast, 养老金 in China is a solution to a profound social transformation. The one-child policy (1979-2015) created a demographic structure where one adult child might be responsible for two parents and four grandparents. This "4-2-1 problem" made the traditional 养儿防老 model unsustainable for many families. Therefore, the state-managed 养老金 system emerged as a necessity. It institutionalizes the value of elder care, shifting the primary financial burden from individual children to a collective system of the state and employers. While the emotional and physical care aspects of filial piety remain important, the 养老金 provides the financial foundation, reflecting China's rapid economic development and changing family structures. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== 养老金 is a common and important term in everyday life, work, and politics. * **In the Workplace:** When you sign an employment contract in China, the contribution amounts for your 养老金 and other social security ([[社保]], shèbǎo) components will be clearly listed. It's a standard part of any formal job's compensation package. * **In Daily Conversation:** People, especially those approaching middle age, often discuss their pensions. They might talk about whether the amount will be sufficient, compare their company's contribution policies, or discuss how to make up for any shortfalls with personal savings. * **In the News and Government:** The sustainability and reform of the national pension system are hot topics in Chinese media and government policy discussions. You will frequently hear 养老金 mentioned in reports on demographics, the economy, and social welfare. * **Connotation:** The term is neutral. It's a factual descriptor of a financial system. The feelings associated with it can be positive (security, a deserved rest) or negative (anxiety about its adequacy, frustration with bureaucracy). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我爷爷下个月就开始领**养老金**了。 * Pinyin: Wǒ yéye xià ge yuè jiù kāishǐ lǐng **yǎnglǎojīn** le. * English: My grandpa will start receiving his pension next month. * Analysis: This shows the most common use case: "receiving" (领, lǐng) a pension after retirement. * **Example 2:** * 每个月公司都会从我的工资里扣一部分钱存入我的**养老金**账户。 * Pinyin: Měi ge yuè gōngsī dōu huì cóng wǒ de gōngzī lǐ kòu yī bùfen qián cúnrù wǒ de **yǎnglǎojīn** zhànghù. * English: Every month, the company deducts a portion of money from my salary and deposits it into my pension account. * Analysis: This explains the contribution mechanism, a key aspect of how the system works for employees. * **Example 3:** * 很多人担心未来的**养老金**可能不够用。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō rén dānxīn wèilái de **yǎnglǎojīn** kěnéng bùgòu yòng. * English: Many people worry that their future pension might not be enough. * Analysis: This reflects a common societal anxiety in modern China regarding the pension system's long-term sustainability. * **Example 4:** * 中国政府正在改革**养老金**制度。 * Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ zhèngzài gǎigé **yǎnglǎojīn** zhìdù. * English: The Chinese government is currently reforming the pension system. * Analysis: This is a formal, news-style sentence you might see in official reports. "制度" (zhìdù) means "system." * **Example 5:** * 你的**养老金**一个月能拿多少钱？ * Pinyin: Nǐ de **yǎnglǎojīn** yī ge yuè néng ná duōshǎo qián? * English: How much money can you get per month from your pension? * Analysis: A very practical and common question when discussing retirement finances. * **Example 6:** * 除了基本的**养老金**，他还自己买了一些商业养老保险。 * Pinyin: Chúle jīběn de **yǎnglǎojīn**, tā hái zìjǐ mǎi le yīxiē shāngyè yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn. * English: Besides the basic state pension, he also bought some commercial retirement insurance himself. * Analysis: This shows the distinction between the state-mandated pension and private/commercial supplements. * **Example 7:** * 灵活就业人员也需要自己缴纳**养老金**。 * Pinyin: Línghuó jiùyè rényuán yě xūyào zìjǐ jiǎonà **yǎnglǎojīn**. * English: Freelancers also need to contribute to their pension themselves. * Analysis: Highlights that the system extends beyond traditional employer-employee relationships. "缴纳" (jiǎonà) is a formal word for "to pay" fees or taxes. * **Example 8:** * 提前退休会影响你**养老金**的总额。 * Pinyin: Tíqián tuìxiū huì yǐngxiǎng nǐ **yǎnglǎojīn** de zǒng'é. * English: Retiring early will affect the total amount of your pension. * Analysis: This links the concept of pension directly to the action of retiring ([[退休]], tuìxiū). * **Example 9:** * 稳定的**养老金**是安度晚年的重要保障。 * Pinyin: Wěndìng de **yǎnglǎojīn** shì āndù wǎnnián de zhòngyào bǎozhàng. * English: A stable pension is an important guarantee for spending one's later years in peace. * Analysis: This sentence has a more literary or formal tone, connecting the pension to the cultural goal of a peaceful old age ([[晚年]], wǎnnián). * **Example 10:** * 我们的**养老金**是由个人、企业和政府三方共同承担的。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen de **yǎnglǎojīn** shì yóu gèrén, qǐyè hé zhèngfǔ sānfāng gòngtóng chéngdān de. * English: Our pension is jointly shouldered by three parties: the individual, the enterprise, and the government. * Analysis: A sophisticated sentence explaining the funding model of the Chinese pension system, perfect for business or economic contexts. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **养老金 (pension) vs. 退休 (retire):** This is the most common mistake for learners. 养老金 is the //money//, while [[退休]] (tuìxiū) is the //action// of retiring. You cannot "do" 养老金. * **Incorrect:** 我明年想**养老金**。 (Wǒ míngnián xiǎng yǎnglǎojīn.) -> "I want to pension next year." (Nonsense) * **Correct:** 我明年想**退休**。 (Wǒ míngnián xiǎng tuìxiū.) -> "I want to retire next year." * **Correct:** 我退休后就可以领**养老金**了。(Wǒ tuìxiū hòu jiù kěyǐ lǐng yǎnglǎojīn le.) -> "After I retire, I can receive my pension." * **养老金 vs. General Savings:** 养老金 specifically refers to the official retirement fund system. It is not a generic term for any money saved for old age. For personal savings, you would use terms like 储蓄 (chǔxù - savings) or 存款 (cúnkuǎn - bank deposit). * **养老金 vs. 退休金 (tuìxiūjīn):** These terms are very similar and often used interchangeably in casual conversation. However, there can be a subtle distinction. 养老金 most often refers to the national, state-managed social insurance fund. [[退休金]] (tuìxiūjīn), "retirement money," can sometimes refer more specifically to a fund or benefit provided by a particular company or enterprise (an occupational pension), especially in older contexts before the national system was standardized. For learners, it's safest to stick with 养老金 as the default term for "pension." ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[退休]] (tuìxiū) - To retire. The action one takes to become eligible for a 养老金. * [[社保]] (shèbǎo) - Social Security. The broad system of which 养老金 is the most important part. It also includes medical, unemployment, work injury, and maternity insurance. * [[养老保险]] (yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn) - Pension Insurance. A more formal name for the pension system, often seen in contracts and policy documents. It is the "insurance" that pays out the "pension." * [[退休金]] (tuìxiūjīn) - Retirement Pay. A very close synonym, sometimes used interchangeably but can imply a specific company fund rather than the state system. * [[养儿防老]] (yǎng ér fáng lǎo) - An idiom meaning "to raise children to provide for old age." The traditional system that 养老金 is partially replacing. * [[晚年]] (wǎnnián) - Later years; old age. The period of life when one lives off their 养老金. * [[福利]] (fúlì) - Benefits; welfare. A pension is a key employee benefit (福利) in China. * [[公积金]] (gōngjījīn) - Housing Provident Fund. Another mandatory contribution for employees in China, often discussed alongside 养老金 as part of the total social security package. * [[下岗]] (xiàgǎng) - To be laid off (from a state-owned enterprise). A term from the 1990s economic reforms that has a strong connection to discussions about retirement and social safety nets.