金额
jīné · HSK 6
amount of money
💰 gold (金) + quota (额) = the money tally
金 means gold or metal, the root for anything monetary. 额 means amount or quota. Together they name the specific sum of money in a transaction or budget.
金 — roof 亼 + two dots (metal nuggets) + earth 土
Originally a pictograph of metal nuggets buried in the earth beneath a covering, with the two dots representing pieces of ore. It first meant 'metal' broadly, then narrowed to 'gold' as the most precious metal, and by extension 'money'.