5 · 40 words

Welfare, care and charity

Pensions and insurance, support for people in need, volunteers, donations and care at home.

Much of this vocabulary arrives in abbreviated form, and the long version is worth knowing: 医保(yībǎo) is 医疗(yīliáo)保险(bǎoxiǎn), 社保(shèbǎo) is 社会(shèhuì)保险(bǎoxiǎn), 低保(dībǎo) is the minimum living allowance. Three characters run through the list: 保(bǎo), to protect or insure, 助(zhù), to help, and 养(yǎng), to raise or support, as in 收养(shōuyǎng) and 养老金(yǎnglǎojīn). The words for giving are graded by formality: you 捐款(juānkuǎn) money, a company 捐赠(juānzèng) goods.

The words

Verb (9)

捐款(juānkuǎn)to donate money; a donationVerb4

地震(dìzhèn)发生(fāshēng)后(hòu)，很(hěn)多(duō)人(rén)主动(zhǔdòng)捐款(juānkuǎn)。After the earthquake, many people donated money of their own accord.

捐赠(juānzèng)to donate (formally, especially goods)Verb5

这(zhè)家(jiā)企业(qǐyè)给(gěi)山区(shānqū)学校(xuéxiào)捐赠(juānzèng)了(le)一(yì)批(pī)电脑(diànnǎo)。The company donated a batch of computers to schools in the mountains.

募捐(mùjuān)to collect donationsVerb5

几(jǐ)个(ge)大学生(dàxuéshēng)在(zài)街(jiē)上(shang)为(wèi)流浪(liúlàng)动物(dòngwù)募捐(mùjuān)。A few university students are collecting donations on the street for stray animals.

救助(jiùzhù)to help, give relief to (people in distress)Verb5

这(zhè)个(ge)机构(jīgòu)专门(zhuānmén)救助(jiùzhù)无家可归(wújiākěguī)的(de)人(rén)。This organisation helps homeless people.

收养(shōuyǎng)to adoptVerb5

这(zhè)对(duì)夫妻(fūqī)收养(shōuyǎng)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)女孩(nǚhái)。This couple has adopted a girl.

The legal word; 领养(lǐngyǎng) is also common, and used of pets too.

寄养(jìyǎng)to foster; to leave in someone’s careVerb5

出差(chūchāi)的(de)时候(shíhou)，他(tā)把(bǎ)狗(gǒu)寄养(jìyǎng)在(zài)朋友(péngyou)家(jiā)。When he goes away on business, he leaves his dog with a friend.

Also of children placed with a foster family.

陪护(péihù)to stay with and look after (a patient)Verb5

手术(shǒushù)后(hòu)第一(dìyī)天(tiān)，必须(bìxū)有(yǒu)家属(jiāshǔ)陪护(péihù)。On the first day after the operation, a family member must stay with the patient.

照料(zhàoliào)to look after, take care ofVerb5

她(tā)辞(cí)了(le)工作(gōngzuò)，在(zài)家(jiā)照料(zhàoliào)生病(shēngbìng)的(de)母亲(mǔqīn)。She gave up her job to look after her sick mother at home.

More formal than 照顾(zhàogù).

关爱(guān'ài)care and concern; to care forVerb5

社会(shèhuì)应该(yīnggāi)多(duō)关爱(guān'ài)残疾(cánjí)儿童(értóng)。Society should show more care for disabled children.

This list belongs to The state, the law and public services — eight lists and 320 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.