tuìxiūjīn: 退休金 - Pension, Retirement Fund

• Keywords: tuìxiūjīn, 退休金, Chinese pension, retirement in China, Chinese retirement fund, pension system China, social security China, how to say pension in Chinese, old-age benefits in Chinese.
• Summary: 退休金 (tuìxiūjīn) is the Chinese word for a pension or retirement fund, the money one receives after retiring from work. This term is central to understanding modern Chinese society, reflecting a major shift from traditional family-based elder care to state and employer-funded systems. For anyone learning about Chinese culture, finance, or family life, understanding 退休金 provides crucial insight into the economic realities and social changes shaping the lives of hundreds of millions of people in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tuìxiūjīn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A sum of money paid regularly by a former employer or the state to a person who has retired from work.
• In a Nutshell: 退休金 literally translates to “retreat-rest-money.” It's the income you rely on when you stop working. Think of it as the financial reward for a lifetime of labor. In China, this concept is a cornerstone of financial security in old age and a frequent topic of conversation among families planning for the future.

• 退 (tuì): To retreat, withdraw, or step back. It signifies leaving one's position or post.
• 休 (xiū): To rest or to stop. The character is a pictograph of a person (人) leaning against a tree (木), vividly illustrating the idea of taking a break.
• 金 (jīn): Gold, metal, or, by extension, money.

The characters combine logically and poetically: It is the “money” (金) you receive when you “withdraw” (退) from your job to “rest” (休).

The concept of 退休金 is a window into the massive social and economic transformations in China over the last century. Historically, the Chinese “pension” system was family-based, encapsulated in the Confucian ideal of 养儿防老 (yǎng'ér fáng lǎo) - “raising children to provide for old age.” Filial piety demanded that children support their parents financially in their later years. The Western concept of a pension was introduced and popularized under the socialist system, especially for state-owned enterprise (SOE) workers. This created the famous “iron rice bowl” (铁饭碗 - tiě fànwǎn), a promise of lifetime employment, housing, and a guaranteed pension. This system created a stark divide between urban state workers who had a 退休金 and rural residents or private-sector workers who did not. Today, China is grappling with a rapidly aging population (partially a result of the one-child policy), which puts immense pressure on both the traditional family support model and the state pension system. Younger generations often find it difficult to support two parents and four grandparents (the “4-2-1” problem). Consequently, having a reliable 退休金 is no longer just a benefit but a critical necessity for a dignified retirement, and pension reform is a constant topic in national policy discussions.

退休金 is a standard, somewhat formal term used in a variety of everyday contexts.

• Family Conversations: Children might ask their parents about their pension plans, or adults might discuss how to supplement their future 退休金 with personal savings. Example: “妈，您的退休金够用吗？” (Mā, nín de tuìxiūjīn gòu yòng ma? - Mom, is your pension enough to live on?).
• Financial Planning: When discussing personal finance, 退休金 is the standard term for a pension fund one contributes to or will receive.
• News and Media: News reports frequently discuss the national pension fund, retirement age adjustments, and policy changes using this term.
• Formality: The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations. It's the default word for “pension.”

• Example 1:
  • 我爷爷每个月都能准时收到他的退休金。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye měi ge yuè dōu néng zhǔnshí shōudào tā de tuìxiūjīn.
  • English: My grandpa receives his pension on time every month.
  • Analysis: A simple, common statement about receiving a pension. 准时 (zhǔnshí) means “on time,” highlighting the regularity and reliability expected of a pension.
• Example 2:
  • 很多年轻人现在就开始为自己的退休金做打算了。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén xiànzài jiù kāishǐ wèi zìjǐ de tuìxiūjīn zuò dǎsuàn le.
  • English: Many young people are now starting to plan for their own retirement funds.
  • Analysis: This shows the modern usage of the term in the context of personal financial planning. 为…做打算 (wèi…zuò dǎsuàn) means “to make plans for…”.
• Example 3:
  • 他的退休金很高，所以退休后生活得很舒适。
  • Pinyin: Tā de tuìxiūjīn hěn gāo, suǒyǐ tuìxiū hòu shēnghuó de hěn shūshì.
  • English: His pension is very high, so he lives comfortably after retirement.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects the amount of the pension directly to the quality of life in retirement.
• Example 4:
  • 如果只靠退休金，我们的晚年生活可能会有点紧张。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ zhǐ kào tuìxiūjīn, wǒmen de wǎnnián shēnghuó kěnéng huì yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.
  • English: If we only rely on the pension, our life in our later years might be a bit tight.
  • Analysis: This reflects a common concern in modern China. 晚年 (wǎnnián) means “later years” and 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) here means “financially tight.”
• Example 5:
  • 你知道怎么计算自己将来能拿多少退休金吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào zěnme jìsuàn zìjǐ jiānglái néng ná duōshǎo tuìxiūjīn ma?
  • English: Do you know how to calculate how much pension you will be able to get in the future?
  • Analysis: A practical question related to the specifics of pension systems. 计算 (jìsuàn) means “to calculate.”
• Example 6:
  • 政府正在讨论提高领取退休金的年龄。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài tǎolùn tígāo lǐngqǔ tuìxiūjīn de niánlíng.
  • English: The government is discussing raising the age for receiving a pension.
  • Analysis: This is an example of how the term is used in news and policy contexts. 领取 (lǐngqǔ) means “to receive” or “to collect.”
• Example 7:
  • 她工作了一辈子，现在终于可以享受她的退休金了。
  • Pinyin: Tā gōngzuò le yībèizi, xiànzài zhōngyú kěyǐ xiǎngshòu tā de tuìxiūjīn le.
  • English: She worked her whole life and can now finally enjoy her pension.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames the pension as a well-deserved reward for a lifetime of work. 一辈子 (yībèizi) means “a lifetime.”
• Example 8:
  • 除了退休金，他还投资了一些股票作为养老补充。
  • Pinyin: Chúle tuìxiūjīn, tā hái tóuzī le yīxiē gǔpiào zuòwéi yǎnglǎo bǔchōng.
  • Analysis: Besides his pension, he also invested in some stocks as a supplement for his retirement.
  • Analysis: Shows how 退休金 fits into a broader retirement strategy. 补充 (bǔchōng) means “supplement” or “addition.”
• Example 9:
  • 这家公司的福利很好，包括丰厚的退休金计划。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de fúlì hěn hǎo, bāokuò fēnghòu de tuìxiūjīn jìhuà.
  • English: This company's benefits are very good, including a generous pension plan.
  • Analysis: Here, 退休金 is part of a benefits package (福利 - fúlì). 丰厚 (fēnghòu) means “rich and generous.”
• Example 10:
  • 办理退休金的手续有点复杂。
  • Pinyin: Bànlǐ tuìxiūjīn de shǒuxù yǒudiǎn fùzá.
  • English: The procedures for applying for the pension are a bit complicated.
  • Analysis: This reflects the bureaucratic aspect of dealing with pensions. 办理手续 (bànlǐ shǒuxù) is a common phrase for “going through procedures.”

The most significant nuance for learners is the difference between 退休金 (tuìxiūjīn) and 养老金 (yǎnglǎojīn).

• 退休金 (tuìxiūjīn): Literally “retire-rest-money.” This term often has a slightly narrower sense, referring to a pension plan provided by a specific employer, particularly state-owned enterprises from the past. It's a “pension” in the classic sense.
• 养老金 (yǎnglǎojīn): Literally “support-old-age-money.” This is a broader and more modern term. It usually refers to the national social security pension that most urban employees in China now pay into. It is the official term for the state's public pension fund.

In Everyday Conversation: The two terms are often used interchangeably, and people will understand you either way. However, using 养老金 is generally more accurate when referring to the national social security system that covers most people today. Common Mistake:

• Incorrect: 我在为我的 401k 存钱，这是我的退休金。 (Wǒ zài wèi wǒ de 401k cúnqián, zhè shì wǒ de tuìxiūjīn.)
• Why it's awkward: While not strictly “wrong,” it's a direct translation. 退休金 and 养老金 in China usually imply a defined-benefit system managed by the state or an employer, not a personal, self-directed investment account like an American 401(k). A more natural way to express this would be: “我在为一个退休储蓄账户存钱” (Wǒ zài wèi yīge tuìxiū chǔxù zhànghù cúnqián - I am saving for a retirement savings account).

• 养老金 (yǎnglǎojīn) - The broader term for old-age pension, especially the state-run social security fund. Often used interchangeably with 退休金 in casual speech.
• 退休 (tuìxiū) - (Verb) To retire. This is the action that leads to receiving a 退休金.
• 社保 (shèbǎo) - Social Security. The abbreviated term for 社会保险 (shèhuì bǎoxiǎn), the national system that includes pensions, medical insurance, unemployment, etc.
• 养老保险 (yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn) - Pension Insurance / Old-Age Insurance. The specific insurance program within 社保 that one pays into to receive a pension later.
• 铁饭碗 (tiě fànwǎn) - The “iron rice bowl.” A colloquial term for the system of guaranteed lifetime employment and benefits (including a pension) that was common in state-owned enterprises.
• 养儿防老 (yǎng'ér fáng lǎo) - An idiom representing the traditional value of “raising sons to provide for old age,” the primary form of “pension” before modern systems.
• 福利 (fúlì) - Benefits, welfare. A pension is considered a key component of a good job's福利.
• 工资 (gōngzī) - Salary, wages. The money you earn *before* you retire.
• 存款 (cúnkuǎn) - Savings, bank deposit. A crucial supplement to one's pension for a comfortable retirement.