🇬🇧🇨🇳 tariff - 关税 : English Lesson

Meaning of "tariff" ("关税"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

A tariff is like a special fee or tax that has to be paid when goods are brought into one country from another country. Imagine if your friend from another town brought you a special toy, and you had to pay a little extra money just because it came from a different town – that's kind of like a tariff. Countries sometimes put tariffs on certain goods to make them more expensive so that people will buy things made in their own country instead.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

I tried to bring candy from Grandma’s house, but my brother put a “tariff” on it—one piece for him.

The “Mom Tariff” meant I had to give her a sip of my milkshake before I could drink it.

The Island of Bananas put a tariff on all imported apples, resulting in a very yellow fruit salad.

I tried to export my homework to my friend, but the tariff was too high.

My little sister put a tariff on her crayons: one piggyback ride per color borrowed.

At the harbor, Ana watched her stacked oranges as the officer read the tariff. The tariff rose, and her face fell. The tariff meant fewer oranges for the market. She emptied one crate, paid the tariff with shaking hands, and handed an orange to a waiting child. The child's grin warmed her; the tariff felt worth it.

This word is featured in some playlists to help boost your English vocabulary! Check out where “tariff” (关税) makes an appearance and dive into themed playlists that make learning fun. 👍

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.