Chinese word

赤字

Pronunciation

Pinyinchì zì

Meaning

  • noundeficit

Example

去年的收入不足，出现了赤字。qù nián de shōu rù bù zú chū xiàn le chì zì

Last year's income fell short, resulting in a deficit.

Illustration for 赤字 (deficit)

More examples

公司通过发行债券弥补了赤字。gōng sī tōng guò fā xíng zhài quàn mí bǔ le chì zì

The company covered the deficit by issuing bonds.

Core concept

A financial balance that falls below zero because spending exceeds income.

Common phrases

  • 出现赤字chū xiàn chì zì

    run a deficit

  • 弥补赤字mí bǔ chì zì

    cover a deficit

  • 赤字额chì zì é

    deficit amount

Similar words

亏损kuī sǔn: A financial loss caused when income or profit falls below costs.
负债fù zhài: Money or other financial obligations that must be repaid.

Definition in Chinese

财政或账目上收入少于支出，导致出现负数或亏空的情况。cái zhèng huò zhàng mù shàng shōu rù shǎo yú zhī chū dǎo zhì chū xiàn fù shù huò kuī kōng de qíng kuàng

Word origin

赤 (chì, "red") + 字 (zì, "character") recalls traditional bookkeeping, where a financial shortfall was written in red ink, giving the word its modern financial sense.

Usage tips

  • Common collocations pair it with 出现 (chūxiàn, "appear") or 陷入 (xiànrù, "fall into"), so these verbs are useful in both reports and ordinary conversation.

Opposites

  • 盈余yíng yúsurplusnoun
  • 结余jié yúbalance remainingnoun

Related words

  • 赤字额chì zì édeficit amountnoun
  • 贸易赤字mào yì chì zìtrade deficitnoun
  • 预算赤字yù suàn chì zìbudget deficitnoun

Word lists with this word