费 (費 in traditional form – fèi) is a character that conveys the idea of expenditure or consumption, and its structure hints at the effort and resources involved in these actions.

Here’s a breakdown of its components:

• 弗 (fú): This component originally depicted a hand holding a stick or a tool, possibly used for striking or breaking something. It symbolized the exertion of effort or force.
• 贝 (bèi): This component, as we’ve seen before, represents “cowrie shells” or “money.” It signifies valuable resources or possessions.

Combining these elements, the original meaning of 费 likely depicted the act of “expending effort or resources” or “consuming valuables.” This emphasizes the cost and effort associated with using or consuming something.

Over time, the meaning of 费 has evolved:

• To spend: This is the most common meaning today, referring to using money, time, or effort to obtain something.
• To cost: This indicates the amount of money or resources required for something.
• Expense: This refers to the cost or expenditure itself.
• To consume: This implies using up or exhausting something, like energy or resources.

The character 费 is used in various contexts related to expenditure and consumption:

• 费用 (fèiyòng): Cost, expense
• 花费 (huāfèi): To spend, to expend
• 浪费 (làngfèi): To waste

The evolution of 费 from a visual representation of expending effort and resources to a more general term for spending and consuming demonstrates the dynamic nature of the Chinese language. Its structure reminds us that every action and consumption involves a cost, whether it’s money, time, or effort.