How to Write 款 (kuǎn) — Meaning “fund; sum of money; style”

Imagine you show (示) your empty pockets, indicating you lack (欠) money — so you need to apply for a fund (款). This image links the two parts to the character's meaning of money or payment.

Write the left component 示 first: a small horizontal stroke on top, then a vertical, then two horizontal lines (like a capital "I" but with a dot? Actually it's 示, which has a dot above? In 款, the left part is 示 written without a dot — just 横, 竖, 横, 横). A common mistake is confusing it with 衣 (clothing) which has a different bottom. For the right part 欠, remember the third stroke has a hook (横钩), and the final stroke is a right-falling 捺.

款 has left part 示 (show) and right part 欠 (owe), while 欲 has left part 谷 (valley) and right part 欠, meaning "desire". 欮 is rare and has a different left part (almost like 厥). Visually, 款 looks more square with a "show" symbol, whereas 欲 has a prominent "valley" on the left. Use 款 for money and styles, 欲 for want, and 欮 is seldom used in modern Chinese.

款 appears frequently in banking and shopping: 付款 means "to pay", 存款 means "bank deposit", and 新款 means "new style" (e.g., new phone model). It can also be used in formal terms like 条款 (clause) or 款式 (design/style). In casual conversation, you might hear "这款" meaning "this style" or "this model". Cultural note: In Chinese online shops, you often see "新款上市" (new model on sale).

Common words containing 款 include: 付款 (fù kuǎn) — To pay; payment; 新款 (xīn kuǎn) — new style; new model; 存款 (cún kuǎn) — bank deposit; to deposit money.