Meanings of 亏本
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AI study notes for 亏本
亏损 (kuīsǔn) — use 亏本 when specifically referring to operating at a loss in a business context, while 亏损 can refer to losses in a broader sense.
Be careful not to confuse 亏本 with 赚钱 (zhuànqián), which means to make a profit. 亏本 is typically used in a more formal context, often related to business discussions. A common collocation is 亏本生意 (kuīběn shēngyì), meaning a loss-making business.
While 亏本 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be useful for learners at HSK 4 and above who are interested in business Chinese. Focus on its components and similar terms related to finance, such as 盈利 (yínglì, profit) to understand the broader context.
Learners often confuse 亏本 with 亏损 (kuīsǔn), which also means to lose money but has a slightly different nuance. For example, saying '这笔交易亏损了' (Zhè bǐ jiāoyì kuīsǔn le) is correct, while using 亏本 here would be less appropriate.
Pronunciation of 亏本
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Component characters
How to say to make a loss in Chinese
“to make a loss” in Chinese is亏本
亏本 (kuīběn) means to incur a financial loss or to operate at a loss. It is commonly used in business contexts, particularly when discussing investments or sales that do not yield a profit. The term conveys the idea of losing money rather than gaining it.
When to use 亏本
Be careful not to confuse 亏本 with 赚钱 (zhuànqián), which means to make a profit. 亏本 is typically used in a more formal context, often related to business discussions. A common collocation is 亏本生意 (kuīběn shēngyì), meaning a loss-making business.
亏本 or something close to it
亏损 (kuīsǔn) — use 亏本 when specifically referring to operating at a loss in a business context, while 亏损 can refer to losses in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 亏本 with 亏损 (kuīsǔn), which also means to lose money but has a slightly different nuance. For example, saying '这笔交易亏损了' (Zhè bǐ jiāoyì kuīsǔn le) is correct, while using 亏本 here would be less appropriate.
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Frequently asked questions about 亏本
You can say, '这笔投资亏本了' (Zhè bǐ tóuzī kuīběn le), meaning 'This investment has incurred a loss.'
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