消费 (xiāofèi)

消费 refers to the use of goods, services, or resources, especially in an economic context where money is spent. It is a key concept in economics and daily life.

Meanings

[verb] to consume; to spend money on goods or services
[noun] consumption; consumer spending

Example Sentences

国内消费的增长对经济发展起着重要作用。 Guónèi xiāofèi de zēngzhǎng duì jīngjì fāzhǎn qǐzhe zhòngyào zuòyòng. The growth of domestic consumption plays an important role in economic development.

年轻一代更愿意在体验和服务上消费，而非购买实物。 Niánqīng yīdài gèng yuànyì zài tǐyàn hé fúwù shàng xiāofèi, ér fēi gòumǎi shíwù. The younger generation is more willing to spend on experiences and services rather than buying physical goods.

过度消费不仅浪费资源，还加重了环境负担。 Guòdù xiāofèi bù jǐn làngfèi zīyuán, hái jiāzhòngle huánjìng fùdān. Excessive consumption not only wastes resources but also adds to the environmental burden.

这家餐厅的人均消费大约是两百元。 Zhè jiā cāntīng de rénjūn xiāofèi dàyuē shì liǎng bǎi yuán. The average spending per person at this restaurant is about two hundred yuan.

节日期间消费市场十分活跃，销售额大幅增长。 Jiérì qījiān xiāofèi shìchǎng shífēn huóyuè, xiāoshòu é dàfú zēngzhǎng. The consumer market is very active during the holidays, and sales have grown significantly.

政府出台政策刺激消费，推动经济复苏。 Zhèngfǔ chūtái zhèngcè cìjī xiāofèi, tuīdòng jīngjì fùsū. The government introduced policies to stimulate consumption and drive economic recovery.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
消费者	consumer
消费水平	level of consumption
刺激消费	stimulate consumption
人均消费	per capita consumption
消费市场	consumer market
理性消费	rational consumption

Usage Notes

消费 is a core economic term that functions as both a verb and a noun. The related word 消费者 (consumer) is frequently used in business and marketing contexts. The phrase 理性消费 (rational consumption) promotes thoughtful, non-impulsive spending and appears in consumer education campaigns.

Compare 消费 with 花费 (huāfèi, to spend/expenditure) -- 花费 is more casual and personal (e.g., 我花了很多钱 -- I spent a lot of money), while 消费 is more formal and economic in tone. Both can refer to spending money, but 消费 carries the connotation of market-level economic activity.

Memory Hook

消 = disappear/use up, 费 = cost/expense -- using up costs -- spending/consumption.