likin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “likin” mean?
A traditional Chinese transit tax or levy on goods.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A traditional Chinese transit tax or levy on goods.
In 19th and early 20th century China, a tax imposed on goods in transit, particularly along inland waterways, which became a significant source of revenue for local and provincial governments and was a source of friction with foreign powers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences; term is equally rare and specialized in both variants.
Connotations
Historical, technical, related to Chinese history and the history of imperialism/trade.
Frequency
Virtually never used in general language. Frequency is confined to specialist historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “likin” in a Sentence
[Government/Authority] + imposed/abolished/collected + the likin (on [goods]).Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in contemporary business contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, economic, and East Asian studies discussing late Imperial China and foreign trade treaties.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a precise term in sinology and economic history.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “likin”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'tax' or 'fee'.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈlaɪkɪn/ (like 'like-in').
- Using it in a modern commercial context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an obsolete historical term specific to Chinese economic history. It is not used in contemporary language.
No, 'likin' is solely a noun referring to the tax system itself. You would say 'to pay the likin' or 'to impose a likin'.
Customs duties are levied on goods crossing international borders. Likin was an internal tax levied on goods moving *within* China's territory.
Both are romanizations (transliterations into the Latin alphabet) of the same Chinese term 釐金. 'Likin' reflects an older Wade-Giles system, while 'lijin' is from the modern Pinyin system.
A traditional Chinese transit tax or levy on goods.
Likin is usually historical / academic in register.
Likin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈliːˈkɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈliˈkɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'LIKE IN' China's past, moving goods required paying a 'likin' tax.
Conceptual Metaphor
TAXATION IS A BARRIER / TAXATION IS A BURDEN.
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary characteristic of the 'likin'?