Meaning and Usage
"支出" (zhīchū) primarily refers to the act of spending or paying out money, often in the context of budgets, finances, or accounting. It is a formal term commonly used in business, government, and financial discussions.
Common Contexts
You will often see "支出" used when talking about monthly or annual expenses, budget allocations, or efforts to reduce costs. It usually refers to actual money going out rather than income or revenue.
Collocations and Patterns
- 支出金额 (amount of expenditure): specifies the sum of money spent.
- 减少支出 (reduce expenditure): used when discussing cost-cutting measures.
- 支出预算 (expenditure budget): the planned amount of money to be spent.
Register and Tone
"支出" is neutral and formal, suitable for written and spoken contexts involving finance or administration. It is less common in casual conversation where simpler words like "花钱" (to spend money) might be used.
Common Confusions
Do not confuse "支出" with "收入" (income). "支出" always refers to money going out, not coming in.