yùsuàn: 预算 - Budget, Estimate

• Keywords: yusuan, 预算, budget in Chinese, Chinese budget, estimate in Chinese, financial planning, how to say budget in Chinese, Chinese financial terms, yusuan meaning, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to use “预算” (yùsuàn), the essential Chinese word for “budget” or “estimate.” This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in daily life, business, and travel. Master “预算” to talk about financial planning, from a simple monthly budget to a major corporate project, and understand its connection to the Chinese cultural value of thrift.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yùsuàn
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A pre-calculated plan of income and expenditure; a financial estimate.
• In a Nutshell: “预算” is the direct and most common way to say “budget” in Chinese. It's a fundamental concept used for planning how money will be spent. Think of it as a financial roadmap. You can have a travel budget (旅行预算), a company can have a project budget (项目预算), and you can also use it as a verb meaning “to budget” or “to estimate” (我预算…).

• 预 (yù): This character means “in advance,” “beforehand,” or “to prepare.” It's found in words like 预订 (yùdìng - to reserve) and 预报 (yùbào - forecast). It sets the stage for something that is planned ahead of time.
• 算 (suàn): This character means “to calculate,” “to count,” or “to reckon.” It's the core of words like 计算 (jìsuàn - to calculate) and 算术 (suànshù - arithmetic). It implies a mathematical or logical process.
• Together, 预算 (yùsuàn) literally means “to calculate in advance.” This perfectly captures the essence of a budget: a plan for money that is calculated before you start spending.

While budgeting is a universal practice, the concept of 预算 (yùsuàn) in China is deeply connected to the cultural value of 节俭 (jiéjiǎn) - thriftiness and frugality. Traditionally, Chinese culture places a high emphasis on saving money and avoiding debt. A budget is not just a financial tool; it's a reflection of prudence, responsibility, and planning for the future. This can be contrasted with some aspects of Western consumer culture, which may place a greater emphasis on credit and “buy now, pay later” systems. In a traditional Chinese family, creating and sticking to a household budget (家庭预算 - jiātíng yùsuàn) is a serious affair, often seen as a cornerstone of a stable and secure life. While modern China has embraced consumerism, the underlying cultural instinct to save and plan remains strong, making 预算 a very important and respected concept in both personal and professional spheres.

预算 is a highly versatile word used across many contexts.

• As a Noun (The Budget): This is its most common usage. It refers to a specific financial plan.
  • Personal Life: “我的每月预算是五千块。” (My monthly budget is 5,000 RMB.)
  • Business: “这个项目的预算是多少？” (What is the budget for this project?)
  • Government: “政府公布了下一年的国家预算。” (The government announced the national budget for next year.)
• As a Verb (To Estimate/Budget): It can also be used as a verb, though this is slightly more formal or used when making an educated guess about cost or time.
  • “我预算这次旅行要花一万块。” (I budget/estimate that this trip will cost 10,000 RMB.)
  • “预算一下，我们需要多长时间完成？” (Make an estimate, how long do we need to finish?)
• Common Collocations:
  • 超出预算 (chāochū yùsuàn): To be over budget.
  • 符合预算 (fúhé yùsuàn): To be within budget.
  • 预算有限 (yùsuàn yǒuxiàn): The budget is limited.
  • 做预算 (zuò yùsuàn): To make a budget.

• Example 1:
  • 我们需要为下个月的开支做一个详细的预算。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào wèi xià ge yuè de kāizhī zuò yí ge xiángxì de yùsuàn.
  • English: We need to make a detailed budget for next month's expenses.
  • Analysis: A classic example of “做预算” (zuò yùsuàn), meaning “to make a budget.” This is a very common phrase in personal finance.
• Example 2:
  • 很抱歉，这台电脑超出了我的预算。
  • Pinyin: Hěn bàoqiàn, zhè tái diànnǎo chāochū le wǒ de yùsuàn.
  • English: I'm sorry, this computer is over my budget.
  • Analysis: “超出预算” (chāochū yùsuàn) is the standard way to say something is “over budget” or “more than I can afford.”
• Example 3:
  • 我们的旅行预算有点儿紧，所以得住便宜一点的酒店。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de lǚxíng yùsuàn yǒudiǎnr jǐn, suǒyǐ děi zhù piányi yìdiǎnr de jiǔdiàn.
  • English: Our travel budget is a bit tight, so we have to stay in cheaper hotels.
  • Analysis: “预算很紧” (yùsuàn hěn jǐn) means the budget is “tight.” This is a very natural and common expression.
• Example 4:
  • 公司削减了市场部的预算。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī xuējiǎn le shìchǎngbù de yùsuàn.
  • English: The company cut the marketing department's budget.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows 预算 used in a formal business context. “削减” (xuējiǎn) means “to cut” or “to reduce.”
• Example 5:
  • 我预算这个项目需要三个月才能完成。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yùsuàn zhège xiàngmù xūyào sān ge yuè cái néng wánchéng.
  • English: I estimate that this project will take three months to complete.
  • Analysis: Here, 预算 is used as a verb meaning “to estimate” or “to forecast,” applying not just to money but also to time.
• Example 6:
  • 你的装修预算是多少？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de zhuāngxiū yùsuàn shì duōshao?
  • English: What is your budget for the renovation?
  • Analysis: A simple, direct question used in everyday life when discussing large purchases or projects.
• Example 7:
  • 我们必须想办法在预算内完成工作。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū xiǎng bànfǎ zài yùsuàn nèi wánchéng gōngzuò.
  • English: We must find a way to finish the work within budget.
  • Analysis: The phrase “在预算内” (zài yùsuàn nèi) literally means “within the budget” and is essential business vocabulary.
• Example 8:
  • 这个价格符合我们的预算，就买这个吧。
  • Pinyin: Zhège jiàgé fúhé wǒmen de yùsuàn, jiù mǎi zhège ba.
  • English: This price is within our budget, let's just buy this one.
  • Analysis: “符合预算” (fúhé yùsuàn) is the positive counterpart to “超出预算” and means “fits the budget” or “is in line with the budget.”
• Example 9:
  • 制定年度预算是财务部门最重要的工作之一。
  • Pinyin: Zhìdìng niándù yùsuàn shì cáiwù bùmén zuì zhòngyào de gōngzuò zhīyī.
  • English: Creating the annual budget is one of the most important tasks of the finance department.
  • Analysis: This example uses “年度预算” (niándù yùsuàn), meaning “annual budget,” a standard term in corporate and government finance.
• Example 10:
  • 由于预算有限，我们只能先关注核心功能。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú yùsuàn yǒuxiàn, wǒmen zhǐ néng xiān guānzhù héxīn gōngnéng.
  • English: Because the budget is limited, we can only focus on the core features for now.
  • Analysis: “预算有限” (yùsuàn yǒuxiàn) is a polite and professional way to explain constraints caused by a limited budget.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 预算 (yùsuàn) and 估计 (gūjì).

• 预算 (yùsuàn) is a plan or a formal estimate based on calculation and intention. It implies a degree of planning and sets a limit. It's about what you *plan* to spend or what is allocated.
  • Correct: 我的购车预算是二十万。(Wǒ de gòuchē yùsuàn shì èrshí wàn.) - My budget for buying a car is 200,000. (This is my plan/limit).
  • Incorrect: 我预算他今天会来。 (This is a guess about an event, not a calculated plan. You should use 估计.)
• 估计 (gūjì) is a guess, a “guesstimate,” or a general assessment. It's less formal and doesn't imply a strict plan or limit. It's about what you *think* is the case.
  • Correct: 我估计这辆车要二十万。(Wǒ gūjì zhè liàng chē yào èrshí wàn.) - I guess/estimate this car costs around 200,000. (This is my rough guess about its price).
  • Correct: 我估计他今天会来。(Wǒ gūjì tā jīntiān huì lái.) - I guess he will come today.

Mistake to Avoid: Do not use 预算 for non-financial or non-resource-based estimations where 估计 is more appropriate. Use 预算 for planned allocation of resources (money, time, materials) and 估计 for general guesses about facts or future events.

• 开支 (kāizhī) - Expenses, expenditure. This is what a 预算 is designed to control.
• 收入 (shōurù) - Income. The money coming in, which forms the basis of a personal 预算.
• 超支 (chāozhī) - To overspend, to exceed the budget. The direct consequence of not following a 预算.
• 计划 (jìhuà) - Plan. A 预算 is a type of financial 计划.
• 估计 (gūjì) - To estimate, to guess. A less formal and precise concept than 预算.
• 成本 (chéngběn) - Cost. In business, a 预算 is crucial for managing project 成本.
• 财务 (cáiwù) - Finance, financial affairs. The broader professional field where 预算 is a key tool.
• 节约 (jiéyuē) - To save, to economize. The action you take to stay within your 预算.
• 资金 (zījīn) - Funds, capital. The money that is allocated in a 预算.
• 决算 (juésuàn) - Final accounts. This is the report of actual spending, which is compared against the initial 预算.