Usage note
罚款表示因为做错事而交钱作为处罚。
fá kuǎn biǎo shì yīn wèi zuò cuò shì ér jiāo qián zuò wéi chǔ fá。
罚款 means paying money as punishment for doing something wrong.
Context note
罚款常用于交通、规则和法律。
fá kuǎn cháng yòng yú jiāo tōng 、 guī zé hé fǎ lǜ。
It is often used with traffic, rules, and law.
5 examples
他被罚款了。
tā bèi fá kuǎn le。
He was fined.
超速会罚款。
chāo sù huì fá kuǎn。
Speeding will result in a fine.
罚款金额不小。
fá kuǎn jīn é bù xiǎo。
The fine amount is not small.
请不要乱停车，不然会罚款。
qǐng bú yào luàn tíng chē， bù rán huì fá kuǎn。
Please do not park randomly, otherwise you will be fined.
罚款很麻烦。
fá kuǎn hěn má fán。
Getting fined is troublesome.
5 mini stories
司机因为超速被罚款。
sī jī yīn wèi chāo sù bèi fá kuǎn。
The driver was fined for speeding.
老师告诉大家不要违反规则，不然会罚款。
lǎo shī gào sù dà jiā bú yào wéi fǎn guī zé， bù rán huì fá kuǎn。
The teacher told everyone not to break the rules, or they will be fined.
他交了罚款。
tā jiāo le fá kuǎn。
He paid the fine.
乱扔垃圾也可能罚款。
luàn rēng lā jī yě kě néng fá kuǎn。
Littering may also lead to a fine.
大家都希望不要收到罚款通知。
dà jiā dōu xī wàng bú yào shōu dào fá kuǎn tōng zhī。
Everyone hopes not to receive a fine notice.
Mini dialogue
图书馆的罚款
A
这本书我晚还了三天，需要交罚款吗？
Zhè běn shū wǒ wǎn huán le sān tiān, xūyào jiāo fákuǎn ma?
I returned this book three days late. Do I need to pay a fine?
B
是的，超期每天罚款五毛钱。
Shì de, chāoqī měi tiān fákuǎn wǔ máo qián.
Yes, the fine is five mao per day for overdue items.
不要乱扔垃圾
A
为什么这里有个牌子写着“罚款”？
Wèishéme zhèlǐ yǒu gè páizi xiězhe “fákuǎn”?
Why is there a sign here that says 'fine'?
B
因为乱扔垃圾会被罚款两百元。
Yīnwèi luàn rēng lājī huì bèi fákuǎn liǎng bǎi yuán.
Because littering can get you a fine of two hundred yuan.
Related words and contrasts
related
惩罚
chéngfá
punish; penalty
罚款 is a type of 惩罚 (punishment).
related
罚单
fádān
ticket; fine notice
罚单 is the physical ticket issued for a fine.