====== shōurù: 收入 - Income, Revenue, Earnings ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 收入 pinyin, 收入 meaning, shouru meaning, how to say income in Chinese, Chinese word for salary, earnings in Chinese, revenue in Chinese, shouru vs gongzi, Chinese financial terms, HSK 4 vocabulary.
  * **Summary:** Learn how to say "income" or "revenue" in Chinese with the word **收入 (shōurù)**. This essential HSK 4 term is used to discuss personal earnings, company revenue, and overall financial well-being in China. Discover the crucial difference between **收入 (shōurù)** and **工资 (gōngzī)**, see practical example sentences, and understand its cultural significance in modern Chinese society. This guide is perfect for beginners wanting to talk about money, work, and finances in Mandarin.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shōurù
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** The money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments; income or revenue.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **收入 (shōurù)** is your total "in-come"—all the money that comes *in* to you or a company. It's a broad, all-encompassing term that can include your salary, a bonus, money from a side-hustle, rental income, or a company's total sales. Think of it as the big-picture financial intake before you subtract any expenses.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **收 (shōu):** This character means "to receive," "to collect," or "to accept." Think of a hand reaching out to **receive** payment or **collecting** items into a box.
  * **入 (rù):** This character means "to enter" or "to go in." The character itself is a pictograph of a wedge or a pointed shape **entering** a space, like a key entering a lock or someone walking through a doorway.
  * Together, **收 (shōu) + 入 (rù)** literally means "receive-enter." This beautifully captures the core concept of money or funds "entering" one's possession or a company's accounts. It's the total amount that comes in.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, **收入 (shōurù)** is far more than just a number; it is a key indicator of stability, capability, and social standing. Financial security is deeply valued, often seen as a prerequisite for starting a family and fulfilling one's filial duties.
A significant cultural difference lies in the openness of discussion. While in many Western cultures, asking about someone's specific salary is a social taboo, in China it can be a more practical and direct topic, especially among close friends, family, or in the context of dating and marriage. A person's **收入** is often viewed as a practical measure of their ability to provide for a family and build a secure future. A "high **收入**" (高收入 gāo shōurù) can significantly contribute to one's "face" or social prestige (面子 miànzi), signaling success and competence to the community.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**收入** is a versatile and neutral term used in various contexts, from casual conversations about work to formal economic reports.
  * **Personal Finance:** This is the most common usage. People use it to talk about their monthly or yearly income. For example, "我的**收入**还不错" (Wǒ de shōurù hái búcuò) - "My income is pretty good."
  * **Business and Economics:** In a business context, **收入** refers to a company's "revenue." You'll see it in financial statements and news reports, e.g., "公司去年的总**收入**" (gōngsī qùnián de zǒng shōurù) - "the company's total revenue last year."
  * **Dating and Relationships:** It's very common to hear **收入** discussed as a practical factor in relationships. A "stable income" (稳定的**收入** wěndìng de shōurù) is a highly desirable trait in a potential partner.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我对现在这份工作的**收入**很满意。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ duì xiànzài zhè fèn gōngzuò de **shōurù** hěn mǎnyì.
    * English: I am very satisfied with the income from my current job.
    * Analysis: A common way to express satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with one's earnings. This is a very natural, everyday sentence.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 他的年**收入**超过了一百万人民币。
    * Pinyin: Tā de nián **shōurù** chāoguò le yì bǎi wàn rénmínbì.
    * English: His annual income exceeds one million RMB.
    * Analysis: Note the use of **年收入 (nián shōurù)** for "annual income," a very common compound.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 稳定的**收入**是申请贷款的重要条件。
    * Pinyin: Wěndìng de **shōurù** shì shēnqǐng dàikuǎn de zhòngyào tiáojiàn.
    * English: A stable income is an important condition for applying for a loan.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the practical importance of **收入** in formal financial situations.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 除了工资，我还有一些别的**收入**来源。
    * Pinyin: Chúle gōngzī, wǒ háiyǒu yìxiē biéde **shōurù** láiyuán.
    * English: Besides my salary, I also have some other sources of income.
    * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the difference between **工资 (gōngzī)** and **收入 (shōurù)**. The salary is just one part of the total income.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 这家公司去年的总**收入**达到了一个新的高度。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī qùnián de zǒng **shōurù** dádào le yí gè xīn de gāodù.
    * English: This company's total revenue reached a new high last year.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the use of **收入** in a business context to mean "revenue."
  * **Example 6:**
    * 你每个月的**收入**大概有多少？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ měi ge yuè de **shōurù** dàgài yǒu duōshǎo?
    * English: Approximately how much is your monthly income?
    * Analysis: A direct but common question among friends or in situations where financial details are relevant. The word **大概 (dàgài)**, meaning "approximately," softens the question slightly.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 高**收入**人群需要缴纳更多的个人所得税。
    * Pinyin: Gāo **shōurù** rénqún xūyào jiǎonà gèng duō de gèrén suǒdéshuì.
    * English: High-income groups need to pay more personal income tax.
    * Analysis: This shows a more formal, economic usage. **个人所得税 (gèrén suǒdéshuì)** is "personal income tax."
  * **Example 8:**
    * 她希望找一个**收入**比她高的男朋友。
    * Pinyin: Tā xīwàng zhǎo yí gè **shōurù** bǐ tā gāo de nánpéngyou.
    * English: She hopes to find a boyfriend whose income is higher than hers.
    * Analysis: This reflects a common, traditional viewpoint in dating and marriage in China.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 增加非工资性**收入**是实现财务自由的关键。
    * Pinyin: Zēngjiā fēi gōngzī xìng **shōurù** shì shíxiàn cáiwù zìyóu de guānjiàn.
    * English: Increasing non-wage income is the key to achieving financial freedom.
    * Analysis: A modern finance concept. **非工资性收入 (fēi gōngzī xìng shōurù)** refers to income from sources other than a salary, like investments or a side business.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 他的**收入**不稳定，有时候高，有时候低。
    * Pinyin: Tā de **shōurù** bù wěndìng, yǒushíhou gāo, yǒushíhou dī.
    * English: His income is unstable; sometimes it's high, sometimes it's low.
    * Analysis: This describes the income of someone who might be a freelancer, a commission-based salesperson, or a small business owner.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for learners is confusing **收入 (shōurù)** with **工资 (gōngzī)**.
  * **收入 (shōurù):** Total Income / Revenue. It's the big bucket. It includes everything: salary, bonus, investment returns, rental income, etc. It can apply to a person OR a company.
  * **工资 (gōngzī):** Salary / Wages. It's the specific, fixed amount your employer pays you for your job, usually on a monthly basis. It only applies to an individual's employment.
**Your salary (工资) is part of your total income (收入).**
**Incorrect Usage:**
  * **Wrong:** ~~我的公司这个月的**工资**很高。~~ (Wǒ de gōngsī zhège yuè de gōngzī hěn gāo.)
  * **Why it's wrong:** A company doesn't have a "salary"; it has revenue. **工资** is for people.
  * **Correct:** 我的公司这个月的**收入**很高。 (Wǒ de gōngsī zhège yuè de shōurù hěn gāo.) - "My company's **revenue** this month is very high."
**False Friend Alert:** While **收入** can mean "revenue," be careful. In English, "revenue" is almost exclusively used for businesses. You wouldn't say "my personal revenue." But in Chinese, "我的个人**收入**" (wǒ de gèrén shōurù) is perfectly normal and just means "my personal income."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[工资]] (gōngzī) - Salary/Wages. A specific component of **收入**. The most important related term to distinguish.
  * [[薪水]] (xīnshuǐ) - Salary. A close synonym for **工资**, sometimes considered slightly more formal or literary.
  * [[奖金]] (jiǎngjīn) - Bonus. A payment received in addition to one's regular salary; another component of **收入**.
  * [[利润]] (lìrùn) - Profit. The amount of money left after subtracting costs from revenue (**收入** - 成本). A key business term.
  * [[支出]] (zhīchū) - Expenditure/Expenses. The direct antonym of **收入**. What goes out vs. what comes in.
  * [[赚钱]] (zhuànqián) - To earn money / make money. This is the verb action; **收入** is the noun result of that action.
  * [[可支配收入]] (kě zhīpèi shōurù) - Disposable income. A specific economic term for the income remaining after deduction of taxes and social security charges.
  * [[营业额]] (yíngyè'é) - Turnover / Volume of business. A synonym for a company's **收入**, often used in formal business reports.