俸 (fèng) - Official salary & stipend

俸Tone 4

fèng ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

俸 · fèng

Official salary;

stipend;

government pay for officials.

Official salarystipendgovernment pay for officials.

Usage highlights

Official salarySalary and benefitsSalary systemMonthly salaryAnnual salarySalary increase

Synonyms

  • 禄— Official emolument, stipend
  • 薪— Salary, wages
  • 饷— Military pay, provisions

Antonyms

  • 罚— Penalty, punishment
  • 捐— Donation, contribution (voluntary giving rather than receiving)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He receives a government salary (领取俸禄).
  • The official's stipend was generous (官员的俸禄很丰厚).
  • This position comes with a regular salary (这个职位有固定俸给).
  • They discussed salary reform (讨论俸制改革).

Collocations

  • Official salary(俸禄)
  • Salary and benefits(俸给)
  • Salary system(俸制)
  • Monthly salary(月俸)
  • Annual salary(年俸)
  • Salary increase(加俸)

Idioms

  • To receive an official salary and hold a government position(食俸居官)
  • To draw salary without performing duties(尸位素俸)
  • To be content with one's salary and position(安于俸禄)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In imperial China, '俸' referred specifically to the regular salary paid to government officials, distinguishing it from other forms of income.
  • The concept was central to the Confucian ideal of the scholar-official who served the state in exchange for a stipend.
  • Salary levels were often tied to rank in the bureaucratic hierarchy, with higher-ranking officials receiving larger stipends.

FAQ