折扣 (zhé kòu) means 'discount' — a reduction in the original price of goods or services. The character 折 (zhé) literally means 'to break' or 'to bend', suggesting a reduction or lowering, while 扣 (kòu) means 'to deduct' or 'to withhold', reinforcing the idea of subtracting from the full amount. Together, they form a compound noun that refers specifically to a price cut offered by sellers, often expressed as a percentage (e.g., 20% 折扣) or a fixed amount (e.g., ¥50 折扣).

This word is commonly used in shopping contexts — in stores, online platforms, advertisements, and promotional events. It appears in phrases like 打折扣 (dǎ zhé kòu, 'to give a discount'), 享受折扣 (xiǎngshòu zhé kòu, 'to enjoy a discount'), or 会员折扣 (huìyuán zhé kòu, 'member discount'). Unlike informal terms like 减价 (jiǎn jià), 折扣 sounds neutral and standard, making it suitable for both spoken and written Chinese in everyday commercial settings.