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. ====== yóufèi: 邮费 - Postage, Shipping Fee ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 邮费, youfei, postage in Chinese, shipping fee in Chinese, mail fee, delivery cost, China Post, Taobao shipping, what is postage in Mandarin, 包邮, 包邮费, 快递费 * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **邮费 (yóufèi)**, which means "postage" or "shipping fee." This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in the age of Taobao and e-commerce, and practical use. Understand how to ask about shipping costs, negotiate for free shipping (包邮 - bāo yóu), and differentiate it from similar terms, with dozens of practical example sentences for beginner and intermediate learners. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yóufèi * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** The fee or cost for mailing or shipping an item. * **In a Nutshell:** **邮费 (yóufèi)** is the direct and most common word for "postage" or "shipping fee" in Mandarin Chinese. It's a straightforward term you'll encounter constantly, from sending a postcard at the post office (邮局) to, more frequently, checking out on an online shopping app like Taobao. It's the cost you pay to get something from point A to point B. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **邮 (yóu):** This character means "post" or "mail." It's composed of ⻏ (a variant of 邑, yì), which relates to a city or place, and 垂 (chuí). Think of it as the character representing the entire postal system and the act of mailing. You see it in key words like **邮**局 (yóujú - post office) and **邮**票 (yóupiào - stamp). * **费 (fèi):** This character means "fee," "cost," or "expense." The radical 贝 (bèi) originally depicted a cowrie shell, which was used as an early form of currency in ancient China. Therefore, characters with 贝 often relate to money. You see it in words like 学**费** (xuéfèi - tuition fee) and浪费 (làng**fèi** - to waste). * **Combined Meaning:** The logic is simple and direct: **邮 (mail) + 费 (fee) = 邮费 (postage/mail fee)**. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== While "postage" in the West might evoke images of stamps and post offices, **邮费** in modern China is inextricably linked to the country's colossal e-commerce culture. For hundreds of millions of consumers, **邮费** is a daily consideration. The most significant cultural concept related to **邮费** is **包邮 (bāo yóu)**, which means "free shipping" (literally "to wrap up the postage"). In the hyper-competitive Chinese online marketplace (Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo), whether an item is **包邮** is a critical factor for buyers. It's not just a marketing perk as it often is in the West; it's a baseline expectation for many products. Shoppers will frequently abandon a cart or message a seller directly to ask, "**可以包邮吗？** (Kěyǐ bāo yóu ma? - Can you include free shipping?)" This negotiation is a standard part of the online shopping experience. Furthermore, many "free shipping" offers exclude remote regions like Xinjiang, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia, leading to the common phrase "**偏远地区不包邮** (piānyuǎn dìqū bù bāo yóu - free shipping not available for remote areas)." ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== You will use **邮费** in two main scenarios: * **Online Shopping:** This is the most common context. You'll see the **邮费** listed at checkout. You might ask a seller questions about it before buying. * "**邮费**多少钱？" (Yóufèi duōshǎo qián?) - "How much is the shipping fee?" * "这个价格包**邮费**吗？" (Zhège jiàgé bāo yóufèi ma?) - "Does this price include the shipping fee?" * **At the Post Office (邮局) or with a Courier (快递):** When you're physically sending a package or letter, the clerk will calculate the **邮费** based on weight, destination, and speed. * "寄到美国的**邮费**是多少？" (Jì dào Měiguó de yóufèi shì duōshǎo?) - "What's the postage to send this to the USA?" The term is neutral and used in both formal and informal situations. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 这件衣服的**邮费**是十块钱。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yīfu de **yóufèi** shì shí kuài qián. * English: The shipping fee for this piece of clothing is 10 RMB. * Analysis: A simple, direct statement of cost. "块 (kuài)" is the colloquial term for "yuan." * **Example 2:** * 请问，寄到上海的**邮费**怎么算？ * Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, jì dào Shànghǎi de **yóufèi** zěnme suàn? * English: Excuse me, how is the postage to Shanghai calculated? * Analysis: "怎么算 (zěnme suàn)" is a very natural way to ask "how is it calculated?" or "what's the rate?" * **Example 3:** * 如果我买两件，可以免**邮费**吗？ * Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒ mǎi liǎng jiàn, kěyǐ miǎn **yóufèi** ma? * English: If I buy two items, can you waive the shipping fee? * Analysis: "免 (miǎn)" means "to waive" or "to exempt." It's a slightly more formal way to say "包邮 (bāo yóu)." This is a common negotiation tactic. * **Example 4:** * 国际**邮费**比东西本身还贵！ * Pinyin: Guójì **yóufèi** bǐ dōngxi běnshēn hái guì! * English: The international shipping fee is even more expensive than the item itself! * Analysis: A common complaint. The "比 (bǐ)...还 (hái)..." structure is used for emphasis in comparisons. * **Example 5:** * 我们店里买满99元就包**邮费**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen diàn lǐ mǎi mǎn 99 yuán jiù bāo **yóufèi**. * English: Our store offers free shipping for purchases over 99 yuan. * Analysis: "买满 (mǎi mǎn)" means "to buy up to a certain amount." This is a standard promotional phrase online. Note that 包邮 (bāo yóu) and 包邮费 (bāo yóufèi) are interchangeable here. * **Example 6:** * 别担心，退货的**邮费**由我们承担。 * Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, tuìhuò de **yóufèi** yóu wǒmen chéngdān. * English: Don't worry, the return shipping fee will be covered by us. * Analysis: "由 (yóu)...承担 (chéngdān)" is a common structure meaning "to be borne/covered by..." * **Example 7:** * 你需要自己付**邮费**。 * Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào zìjǐ fù **yóufèi**. * English: You need to pay the postage yourself. * Analysis: "付 (fù)" is the verb "to pay." Simple and direct. * **Example 8:** * 总金额是200元，其中**邮费**12元。 * Pinyin: Zǒng jīn'é shì 200 yuán, qízhōng **yóufèi** 12 yuán. * English: The total amount is 200 yuan, of which 12 yuan is for shipping. * Analysis: "其中 (qízhōng)" means "among which" or "of which." This is a more formal sentence structure you might see on an invoice. * **Example 9:** * 这个价格不含**邮费**。 * Pinyin: Zhège jiàgé bù hán **yóufèi**. * English: This price does not include the shipping fee. * Analysis: "含 (hán)" means "to contain" or "to include." A very common phrase you'll see in product descriptions. * **Example 10:** * 寄一封平信的**邮费**不贵。 * Pinyin: Jì yī fēng píngxìn de **yóufèi** bù guì. * English: The postage for sending a standard letter isn't expensive. * Analysis: "平信 (píngxìn)" refers to standard surface mail, as opposed to registered or express mail. * **Example 11:** * 系统会自动计算**邮费**。 * Pinyin: Xìtǒng huì zìdòng jìsuàn **yóufèi**. * English: The system will automatically calculate the shipping fee. * Analysis: A phrase you'll encounter on almost any e-commerce website or app. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **邮费 (yóufèi)** and **运费 (yùnfèi)**. * **邮费 (yóufèi):** Literally "post fee." This is the general, everyday term. It's used for smaller parcels, letters, online shopping for consumer goods, and anything sent via a standard courier (快递, kuàidì) or the post office (邮局, yóujú). **When in doubt as a consumer, use 邮费.** * **运费 (yùnfèi):** Literally "transport fee." This term is broader and often implies larger-scale shipping or freight. It's used for logistics, cargo, shipping furniture, or in formal business-to-business contexts. While you might see it used interchangeably with **邮费** online, it has a more industrial or heavy-duty connotation. **Common Mistake:** Using a generic word like **价钱 (jiàqian)** for shipping. * **Incorrect:** 运送的价钱是多少？ (Yùnsòng de jiàqian shì duōshǎo?) - This is grammatically awkward and unnatural. * **Correct:** **邮费**是多少钱？ (**Yóufèi** shì duōshǎo qián?) - This is precise, natural, and what a native speaker would say. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[包邮]] (bāo yóu) - Free shipping. The single most important concept related to **邮费** in modern China. * [[运费]] (yùnfèi) - Freight cost, shipping fee. A close synonym, but typically used for larger items or in more formal, logistical contexts. * [[快递]] (kuàidì) - Express delivery, courier (e.g., SF Express, ZTO Express). The service you pay the **邮费** to. * [[快递费]] (kuàidìfèi) - Courier fee. A very common synonym for **邮费** in the context of express delivery. For most daily purposes, it's interchangeable with **邮费**. * [[包裹]] (bāoguǒ) - Parcel, package. The physical item that you are paying **邮费** to send. * [[邮局]] (yóujú) - Post office. The state-run institution for mail services. * [[淘宝]] (Táobǎo) - Taobao. China's largest C2C e-commerce platform, where **邮费** is a constant point of discussion. * [[到付]] (dàofù) - Pay on arrival; cash on delivery. This can refer to paying for the item, the **邮费**, or both when the package arrives. * [[寄]] (jì) - To send, to mail. The verb used with **邮费**. E.g., "**寄**这个包裹的**邮费**..." (The postage for **sending** this package...). * [[收件人]] (shōujiànrén) - Recipient, addressee. The person receiving the package.