Definition
话费 (huà fèi) is a compound noun meaning 'phone bill' or 'call charges' – it specifically refers to telecom expenses (mobile or landline). Compare with 费用 (fèi yong), a general term for any cost or fee, and 费 (fèi), which is a broader noun/verb for 'fee, expense, to spend'. 运费 (yùn fèi) follows the same pattern but means 'shipping fee'.
noun
phone billcall charges (for mobile or landline)
Easily confused
- 花费huā fèisound-aliketo spend (time or money)
- 化肥huà féisound-alikefertilizer
Examples
- 。Zhège yuè de huà fèi bǐ shàng gè yuè guì le hěn duō.This month's phone bill is a lot more expensive than last month's.
- 话费，。Wǒ zuótiān gāng jiāo le huà fèi, xiàn zài yǒu yú'é le.I just paid my phone bill yesterday, so now there's a balance.
- 话费。Nǐ chá yíxià huà fèi hái shèng duōshao.Check how much phone credit is left.
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