真金白银
zhēn jīn bái yín
hard cash; real money, not just promises
Character by character
真zhēn
real
real
金jīn
gold
gold
白bái
white
white
银yín
silver
silver
Example
这次降价是真金白银的优惠，不是先涨价再打折的套路。
This price cut is a real saving, not the old trick of raising prices and then offering a discount.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
A favourite of journalists and officials for subsidies and investment: 真金白银的支持 is money actually paid, as opposed to slogans. Usually before 的 + noun or after 拿出.
Learn this in Lesson 113 · HSK 7–9: 育儿补贴来了 (Livelihood news: the new childcare subsidy)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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