bou2 zing3 gam1保證金保证金

Jyutpingbou2 zing3 gam1

Yalebóu jing gām

名詞

Definition

Guarantee money; a refundable deposit or bail bond.

neutralmoneyhome

How it's used

While 保證金 is understood in formal or legal contexts, everyday speech overwhelmingly prefers 按金 for rental or general deposits. Using 保證金 often signals a more serious or financial transaction, such as a security bond or a contractual guarantee, rather than a simple rental deposit.

Measure word

bat1筆bāt

Examples

zou1租lau2樓jiu3要gaau1交loeng5兩go3個jyut6月bou2保zing3證gam1金。

You need to pay two months' deposit when renting an apartment.

nei5你ling1拎faan1返zoeng1張sau1收geoi3據zau6就ho2可ji5以teoi3退faan1返bou2保zing3證gam1金㗎gaa2喇。

You can get your deposit back just by bringing the receipt.

Common phrases

teoi3退waan4還bou2保zing3證gam1金

refund the deposit

giu2繳fu6付bou2保zing3證gam1金

pay the deposit

Common mistake

Learners often use 保證金 for everyday situations like renting a flat, but native speakers almost exclusively use 按金 in those cases. Reserve 保證金 for formal, legal, or high-stakes financial contexts.