HSK · Level 17
135 words
Chinese word
亏
Pronunciation
Pinyinkuī
Meaning
- verblose money
Example
投资失败后，公司又亏了一笔。tóu zī shī bài hòu gōng sī yòu kuī le yì bǐ
After the investment failed, the company lost more money.
More examples
由于季节性销售下降，商店这个季度亏本。yóu yú jì jié xìng xiāo shòu xià jiàng shāng diàn zhè ge jì dù kuī běn
Due to a seasonal drop in sales, the store operated at a loss this quarter.
Core concept
Money or another amount flows out faster than it comes in, leaving a shortfall.
Common phrases
吃大亏chī dà kuī
suffer a major loss
亏本kuī běn
operate at a loss
亏损kuī sǔn
incur losses
Similar words
赔钱péi qián: Make a deal or run a business that results in lost money.
亏损kuī sǔn: Have a financial deficit because expenses are greater than income.
吃亏chī kuī: Be put at a disadvantage or suffer harm or loss.
Definition in Chinese
因支出、损耗或损失超过收入而导致财产或数量减少，指出现亏损或赤字的情况。yīn zhī chū sǔn hào huò sǔn shī chāo guò shōu rù ér dǎo zhì cái chǎn huò shù liàng jián shǎo zhǐ chū xiàn kuī sǔn huò chì zì de qíng kuàng
Word origin
The simplified character 亏 (kuī, "lose money") comes from 虧 (kuī, "be deficient"), linking the modern financial sense to the older idea of something falling short.
Usage tips
- In everyday Chinese, this verb commonly describes a business, investment, or deal that ends below break-even, so it often appears with a specific amount or transaction.
Other meanings
- run a deficitverb
Opposites
- 赚钱zhuàn qiánmake moneyverb
- 盈利yíng lìearn a profitverb