Meaning
付出 means to give or invest something valuable, usually referring to effort, time, money, or personal sacrifice for a goal or person. It emphasizes the act of spending resources (especially non-material ones like energy and dedication) with the expectation or hope of achieving something or helping someone. The word carries a slightly formal or serious tone.
Usage
Native speakers commonly use 付出 when discussing work, relationships, and personal growth to describe effort, sacrifice, or investment. It often appears with words like 努力 (effort), 代价 (price/cost), or 时间 (time). The word implies something significant was given, not trivial contributions. It's more formal than colloquial synonyms like 花 (to spend).
Examples
- 01她为这个项目付出了很多时间和精力。.She invested a lot of time and energy into this project.
- 02没有付出就没有收获。.No pain, no gain. (Literally: Without giving, there is no harvest.)
Characters
Common collocations
- 付出努力to put in effort
- 付出代价to pay a price
- 付出时间to invest time
- 付出爱to give love
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 付 (to pay/deliver) with 出 (to go out/emerge), literally meaning 'to pay out' or 'to deliver forth,' which extends metaphorically to investing effort or making sacrifices.