'中介佣金' (zhōng jiè yòng jīn) literally combines '中' (middle), '介' (to introduce or mediate), '佣' (commission or fee for service), and '金' (money or funds). Together, it means the fee paid to an intermediary—such as a real estate agent, recruitment consultant, or financial broker—for facilitating a transaction between two parties. This term is commonly used in business, property, employment, and financial services in China and other Mandarin-speaking regions.

The word emphasizes the professional, third-party role of the mediator and implies that the fee is pre-agreed, often calculated as a percentage of the deal value. It is a formal, neutral term—not colloquial—and appears frequently in contracts, invoices, and official communications. Unlike informal terms like '好处费' (bèn chǔ fèi, 'favor money'), '中介佣金' carries no implication of impropriety; it denotes a legitimate, transparent service charge.