sik1 hau2息口

Jyutpingsik1 hau2

Yalesīk háu

名詞

Definition

Interest rate; the ratio of interest to principal on a loan.

colloquialmoney

How it's used

Refers specifically to the percentage rate charged on loans or paid on savings, making it the standard term in financial news and casual banking discussions. While 利率 is the formal written term used in banking documents, 息口 is the preferred choice in spoken Cantonese. It is frequently used when discussing mortgages or central bank policy changes.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

zeoi3最gan6近sik1息hau2口sing1升dak1得hou2好faai3快aa4呀。

Interest rates have been rising very quickly recently.

nei5你zi1知m4唔zi1知haa6下go3個jyut6月sik1息hau2口wui2會m4唔wui2會gaam2減？

Do you know if interest rates will be cut next month?

Common phrases

sik1息hau2口zau2走sai3勢

interest rate trend

gaa1加sik1息

raise interest rates

gaam2減sik1息

cut interest rates

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 利息, which refers to the actual amount of interest paid or earned rather than the percentage rate itself. Use 息口 when discussing the trend or the rate level, and 利息 when discussing the specific sum of money.