finance
/ˈfaɪnæns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfaɪnæns/ (ame, ipa) · /fə-ˈnan(t)s ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s fī-ˈnan(t)s/ (ame, mw) · /ˈfaɪ.næns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfaɪ.næns/ (ame, ipa)
finance — noun
1. the activity of handling money, credit, and investments, especially within gover
the activity of handling money, credit, and investments, especially within governments, companies, or other large organizations.
Eleni studied finance at university before joining a bank in Taipei.
The company's finance department handles all payments and prepares the annual budget.
collocation: finance department / public finance
When oil prices surged, Isabela's trading firm had to rethink its global finance strategy.
After a budget crisis, Japan appointed a new minister to oversee public finance reform.
Sivan took a course in personal finance to learn how to budget better.
- money management
a more basic, everyday term; finance is the formal name for the field.
- financial affairs
broader, can include personal budgeting; finance tends to refer to institutional or professional activity.
用法筆記
Often paired with an adjective like personal, public, corporate, or international to specify the domain.
常見錯誤
2. the funds belonging to a person, company, or government, available to spend, sav
the funds belonging to a person, company, or government, available to spend, save, or invest.
The family's finances were stretched thin after the expensive home repairs.
Lakan checked his personal finances before agreeing to buy the car.
plural form 'finances' for personal money situation
The school needs to get its finances in order before building a new library.
Weak finances forced the small bakery to close its doors last summer.
Sana's careful planning helped her manage her finances during the move to Kaohsiung.
用法筆記
Frequently used in the plural form finances to refer to someone's overall money situation. The singular form finance is less common in this sense and usually appears with a modifier such as state of.
常見錯誤
3. the academic subject that explores how money, investments, and financial markets
the academic subject that explores how money, investments, and financial markets operate, often studied at universities.
Mateo wrote his thesis on behavioural finance and investor decision-making.
Corporate finance is one of the most popular courses in the MBA programme.
compound noun: corporate finance / behavioural finance
Astrid decided to major in finance after attending a university career fair.
The professor of finance published a paper on cryptocurrency markets.
Minh read a textbook on international finance the night before her exam.
- financial studies
less common; finance is the standard name for the university subject.
- financial economics
a narrower subfield focused on economic theory; finance covers a wider range of practical topics.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (MONEY MANAGEMENT): this sense names the field of study, not the practice itself. You study finance at university (sense 3) and then work in finance (sense 1).
4. money that is lent or given to a person, business, or organization to support a
money that is lent or given to a person, business, or organization to support a specific purpose, such as a project or purchase.
The startup secured finance from a group of private investors.
collocation: secure finance / arrange finance
Dahlia applied for finance to cover the cost of new kitchen equipment.
The housing project depends on finance from the local government.
Without additional finance, the charity cannot expand its food programme.
Banks offer short-term finance to help businesses manage cash flow.
- funding
very close synonym, often interchangeable; funding can include non-repayable grants, while finance often implies loans.
- capital
used more for investment in business assets; finance is broader and can cover personal or project loans.
- financing
the gerund form, very similar; 'financing' emphasizes the process of arranging the money.
用法筆記
Very close in meaning to the verb sense 1 (PROVIDE FUNDING). This noun sense emphasizes the money itself as an instrument or resource, while the verb focuses on the action of supplying it.
常見錯誤
finance — verb
- financepresent simple I / you / we / they
- finances3rd person singular
- financing-ing form
- financedpast simple
1. to provide the funds required to pay for a project, purchase, education, or othe
to provide the funds required to pay for a project, purchase, education, or other planned activity.
The government agreed to finance the construction of a new hospital in Tainan.
Kian financed his education by working part-time at a local restaurant.
pattern: finance + direct object + by + verb-ing
The independent film was mostly financed by a group of local artists.
Yuna's parents helped finance her first apartment after she graduated.
Tendai plans to finance the renovation of his shop through a bank loan.
- fund
very similar, often interchangeable; 'fund' can also mean to provide a portion of the money, while 'finance' often implies covering the full cost.
- pay for
more general and everyday; 'finance' is more formal and often suggests larger or structured payments.
- bankroll
informal, slang, suggests providing the entire sum; 'finance' is neutral in register.
文法句型
finance + noun phrase (object)
be financed + by/through + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be financed by/through). The subject can be a person, company, government, or institution — anyone who supplies the money.
常見錯誤
2. to let a customer pay for something in several smaller payments over a set time,
to let a customer pay for something in several smaller payments over a set time, often with extra interest added.
The car dealership financed the purchase, letting Liam pay over three years.
The furniture store on Zhongxiao East Road financed Tara's new sofa over twelve months.
pattern: finance + purchase + for + customer
The electronics shop financed the laptop with no interest for the first six months.
The appliance store financed his new washing machine over twelve monthly payments.
- offer credit for
more explanatory; 'finance' is the concise business term for offering a payment plan.
- provide instalment terms for
more formal and explicit; 'finance' is the standard retail shorthand.
- require full payment for
describes the opposite policy — demanding the whole sum at once.
文法句型
finance + someone + noun phrase (the purchase)
finance + noun phrase (purchase) + for + someone
用法筆記
This sense is common in retail and car sales contexts. The person selling the item (store, dealer) is the one doing the financing — not a bank. Distinguish from verb sense 1 (PROVIDE FUNDING), where the money is given upfront rather than offered as a payment plan.