HSK 5, unknown, 3 strokes, radical 二, rank #10404, Hard
亏
kuī
(often ironically) fancy that...
HSK 5, unknown, 3 strokes, radical 二, rank #10404, Hard
kuī(kui1) T1
1deficiency
2deficit
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March 24, 2026
亏(虧)kuī(kui1)
The character 亏 (kuī) primarily means 'to lose' or 'to suffer a loss.' It is often used in contexts related to financial deficits, but can also imply a deficiency or shortfall in other areas. In some contexts, it can convey a sense of irony, as in acknowledging a fortunate outcome despite a loss.
Strokes3Radical二Frequency#10404DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing financial losses openly can be somewhat taboo, as it reflects on one's personal management skills. The character 亏 may also appear in idiomatic expressions that highlight the irony of a situation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'key' (sounds like 'kuī') that unlocks a treasure chest, but when you open it, you find it empty—this represents a loss or deficiency. The character 亏 features a 'mountain' (山) under 'deficient' (亻), suggesting a loss of resources or support.
Meanings of 亏
kuī(kui1)
1deficiency
2deficit
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 亏
亏Simplified
虧Traditional
3Strokes
二Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#10404Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 亏
Podcast: 亏
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AI Study Notes for 亏
Quick Contrast
亏 (kuī) vs 损 (sǔn) — use 亏 when emphasizing personal loss or deficiency; use 损 when referring to damage or harm to something.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone, as 亏 has a falling tone (kuī), which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing finances. Common collocations include 亏损 (kuīsǔn - deficit) and 亏欠 (kuīqiàn - owe a debt).
HSK Study Tips
While 亏 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it is useful for understanding financial discussions. Students should focus on its usage in expressing loss and deficiency, connecting it with other financial terms like 利润 (lìrùn - profit) and 盈余 (yíngyú - surplus).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 亏 with similar characters like 虧 (also pronounced kuī), which can lead to incorrect meanings. For example, saying '我亏了很多食物' (Wǒ kuī le hěn duō shíwù) instead of using a more appropriate term for food loss can sound awkward.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 亏
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Decomposition of 亏
IDS Structure⿱二？
亏Full Character
=
二er4
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Exercise 1 of 1
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 亏?
How to say deficiency in Chinese
“deficiency” in Chinese is亏kuī
The character 亏 (kuī) primarily means 'to lose' or 'to suffer a loss.' It is often used in contexts related to financial deficits, but can also imply a deficiency or shortfall in other areas. In some contexts, it can convey a sense of irony, as in acknowledging a fortunate outcome despite a loss.
When to use 亏
Be careful with the tone, as 亏 has a falling tone (kuī), which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing finances. Common collocations include 亏损 (kuīsǔn - deficit) and 亏欠 (kuīqiàn - owe a debt).
亏 or something close to it
亏 (kuī) vs 损 (sǔn) — use 亏 when emphasizing personal loss or deficiency; use 损 when referring to damage or harm to something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 亏 with similar characters like 虧 (also pronounced kuī), which can lead to incorrect meanings. For example, saying '我亏了很多食物' (Wǒ kuī le hěn duō shíwù) instead of using a more appropriate term for food loss can sound awkward.
Write 亏
亏
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Grammar Patterns of 亏
亏 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
You might say '我亏了很多钱' (Wǒ kuī le hěn duō qián) meaning 'I lost a lot of money.'
Typically, yes, but it can also be used in a more ironic sense, such as '亏我还以为会赢' (kuī wǒ hái yǐwéi huì yíng), meaning 'I thought I would win, how ironic.'
Common phrases include 亏损 (kuīsǔn - deficit) and 亏欠 (kuīqiàn - owe something).
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