通货膨胀 (tōnghuò péngzhàng) — inflation
HSK 5 | noun | the sustained rise in the general price level of an economy
通货膨胀 (tōnghuò péngzhàng)
通货膨胀 is the standard Chinese term for inflation, referring to the general and sustained rise in prices across an economy, and is essential vocabulary for economics, finance, and current affairs discussions.
Meanings
- [noun] inflation; a sustained increase in the general price level
Example Sentences
持续的通货膨胀使普通家庭的实际购买力不断下降。 Chíxù de tōnghuò péngzhàng shǐ pǔtōng jiātíng de shíjì gòumǎilì bùduàn xiàjiàng. Sustained inflation has continuously reduced the real purchasing power of ordinary families.
中央银行通过调整利率来控制通货膨胀。 Zhōngyāng yínháng tōngguò tiáozhěng lìlǜ lái kòngzhì tōnghuò péngzhàng. Central banks control inflation by adjusting interest rates.
战争和供应链中断是导致本次通货膨胀的主要原因。 Zhànzhēng hé gōngyìng liàn zhōngduàn shì dǎozhì běn cì tōnghuò péngzhàng de zhǔyào yuányīn. War and supply chain disruptions were the main causes of this round of inflation.
高通货膨胀率对储蓄者的财富产生了严重的侵蚀效应。 Gāo tōnghuò péngzhàng lǜ duì chúxùzhě de cáifù chǎnshēngle yánzhòng de qīnshí xiàoyìng. High inflation has had a serious erosive effect on the wealth of savers.
政府推出了补贴措施以缓解通货膨胀对低收入群体的冲击。 Zhèngfǔ tuīchūle bǔtiē cuòshī yǐ huǎnjiě tōnghuò péngzhàng duì dī shōurù qúntǐ de chōngjī. The government launched subsidy measures to ease the impact of inflation on low-income groups.
经济学家预测，随着供应紧张的缓解，通货膨胀率将逐步回落。 Jīngjìxuéjiā yùcè, suízhe gōngyìng jǐnzhāng de huǎnjiě, tōnghuò péngzhàng lǜ jiāng zhúbù huíluò. Economists predict that as supply tightness eases, the inflation rate will gradually fall back.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 通货膨胀率 (tōnghuò péngzhàng lǜ) | inflation rate |
| 控制通货膨胀 (kòngzhì tōnghuò péngzhàng) | control inflation |
| 恶性通货膨胀 (èxìng tōnghuò péngzhàng) | hyperinflation |
| 抑制通货膨胀 (yìzhì tōnghuò péngzhàng) | curb inflation |
| 温和通货膨胀 (wēnhé tōnghuò péngzhàng) | moderate inflation |
| 通货紧缩 (tōnghuò jǐnsuō) | deflation (antonym) |
Usage Notes
通货膨胀 is a four-character compound: 通货 (currency/money in circulation) + 膨胀 (to expand/swell). The antonym is 通货紧缩 (tōnghuò jǐnsuō, deflation). In spoken Chinese, it is sometimes shortened to 通胀 (tōngzhàng). Learners should recognise this abbreviation in news contexts.
The term originates from economic theory and is used consistently across news media, academic writing, and policy documents. At B2, understanding the key collocations with 控制 (control) and 率 (rate) is most important.
Memory Hook
通货 (circulating money) + 膨胀 (swelling/expanding) = money swelling up -- it takes more of it to buy the same things.