"捐款" (juān kuǎn) literally combines "捐" (to donate, contribute) and "款" (funds, money), meaning specifically a monetary donation. It refers to voluntary financial contributions given to support a cause, organization, or individual in need — commonly used in charitable, disaster-relief, medical, or educational contexts. Unlike general terms like "钱" (money), "捐款" emphasizes the altruistic, purpose-driven nature of the funds.

This word is typically used as a noun and often appears after verbs like "进行" (to carry out), "接受" (to receive), "募集" (to raise), or "捐赠" (to donate). It’s formal and respectful, frequently seen in news reports, charity campaigns, and official announcements. While "捐" alone can be a verb, "捐款" functions almost exclusively as a noun; saying "我捐款了" is correct, but "我捐款你" is ungrammatical — use "我给你捐钱" instead for the verb sense.