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A2 verb #5,500 le plus courant 10 min de lecture

亏本

To lose money (in business).

kuīběn
At the A1 level, you should think of 亏本 (kuīběn) as a simple way to say 'I lost money in a deal.' Imagine you buy an apple for 5 yuan and sell it for 3 yuan. You have '亏本' because you lost 2 yuan of your own money. It is very useful when you go shopping. If a seller asks for a price that is too high, you might not use it, but the seller will definitely use it to tell you they cannot go lower. It is made of two parts: '亏' (lose) and '本' (original money). You can just say '亏本了' (I lost money). At this level, don't worry about complex grammar. Just remember it is for buying and selling. If you drop your money on the street, don't use this word! Use '丢钱' instead. '亏本' is only for business. It's a very 'market' word. You will see it on signs in shops that are closing down, like '亏本大甩卖' (Selling everything at a loss!). It's one of the first 'business' words you learn because everyone in China loves a good deal, and '亏本' is the opposite of a good deal for the seller!
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At the A2 level, you can start using 亏本 (kuīběn) in more complete sentences. You should understand that it functions like a verb. For example, '我做生意亏本了' (I lost money doing business). You can also use it to describe a type of business: '亏本生意' (a losing business). A2 learners should distinguish between '亏本' and '赔钱.' While they are similar, '赔钱' is more common in daily speech, while '亏本' specifically emphasizes that you didn't even get your original investment back. You might hear people say '亏大了' (kuī dà le) which means 'I lost a lot!' or 'I really got the short end of the stick.' This is a more colloquial version of the same idea. You should also be able to use '亏本' with '要' (yào) to express a future possibility: '再这样下去，我们要亏本。' (If we keep going like this, we will lose money.) This level is about moving from single words to 'if/then' logic involving financial outcomes.
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 亏本 (kuīběn) in professional and social contexts. You can discuss why a business might be '亏本,' such as high rent (房租高) or too much competition (竞争激烈). You should also learn the formal counterpart '亏损' (kuīsǔn) and know when to switch. For instance, in a meeting, you might say '公司目前处于亏损状态' (The company is currently in a state of loss). You can also use '亏本' metaphorically. If you spend all weekend helping a friend move and they don't even buy you lunch, you might jokingly say '这桩买卖亏本了.' At B1, you should also understand the cultural nuance of '卖惨' (mài cǎn - playing the victim) where a seller claims to be '亏本' to make a sale. You can use it in more complex structures like '宁可...也要...' (Would rather... than...). For example: '他宁可亏本卖掉房子，也要离开那个城市。' (He would rather sell the house at a loss than stay in that city.)
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At the B2 level, 亏本 (kuīběn) becomes a tool for analyzing market dynamics. You should be able to discuss concepts like 'dumping' or 'loss leaders'—selling something at a loss to gain market share. This is often called '亏本赚人气' (losing money to gain popularity). You should be able to write short reports about financial trends using this word along with related terms like '成本' (cost), '利润' (profit), and '回本' (to get one's investment back). B2 learners should also be aware of the historical context; '本' refers to the 'root' or 'source,' and in traditional Chinese merchant culture, '保本' (protecting the capital) was the first rule of survival. You can use '亏本' in hypothetical discussions about investment risks, such as '股市波动可能导致投资者亏本' (Stock market fluctuations may cause investors to lose money). Your grasp of the word should now include its use in complex compound sentences and an understanding of its emotional weight in a culture that prizes financial stability.
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At the C1 level, you should master the subtle distinctions between 亏本 (kuīběn) and its more academic synonyms like '入不敷出' (rù bù fū chū - income not meeting expenses) or '赤字' (chìzì - deficit). You should be able to engage in deep discussions about the 'sunk cost fallacy' (沉没成本谬误) and how it leads people to continue '亏本' projects. C1 learners can use the word in sophisticated rhetorical ways, perhaps in a speech about social responsibility: '有时候，为了社会责任，企业必须做一些亏本的买卖。' (Sometimes, for social responsibility, enterprises must engage in loss-making ventures.) You should also be able to understand the word when used in classical or semi-formal idioms. Your listening skills should allow you to detect when a business person is using '亏本' as a strategic lie versus a genuine financial crisis. You can also analyze the word's role in the 'sharing economy' (共享经济) where '亏本经营' was a standard model for years (e.g., bike-sharing apps).
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At the C2 level, 亏本 (kuīběn) is just one thread in a complex tapestry of economic and philosophical discourse. You should be able to discuss the philosophical implications of 'loss' in a broader sense—how '亏' (loss) and '盈' (gain) are viewed in Taoist or Confucian thought as cycles of nature. You can write high-level economic analyses of why certain state-owned enterprises are allowed to remain '亏本' for strategic national interests. You should be able to read and critique financial literature that uses '亏本' in the context of 'venture capital burning rates' (烧钱率) and 'exit strategies' (退出机制). At this level, you should also be familiar with regional variations; for example, how the term might be used differently in a Hong Kong business context compared to a mainland tech hub. Your usage should be indistinguishable from a native speaker, employing the word with perfect timing, tone, and cultural sensitivity, whether in a high-stakes negotiation or a casual discussion about the economy.
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Exemples

亏本 en 30 secondes

  • 亏本 (kuīběn) is a common Chinese verb meaning to lose money specifically in a business or investment context, literally 'losing the principal.'
  • It is frequently used in bargaining, financial reporting, and daily conversations about failed investments or poor sales results.
  • Unlike 'lose' in English, it cannot be used for losing physical objects or losing a sports game; it is strictly financial.
  • Commonly paired with '生意' (business) or '卖' (sell), it can also be used metaphorically for social exchanges where effort exceeds reward.

The term 亏本 (kuīběn) is a fundamental concept in the world of Chinese commerce and daily transactions. At its core, it is a verb-object construction where 亏 (kuī) means to be deficient, to lack, or to lose, and 本 (běn) refers to the 'principal' or 'capital'—the original amount of money invested in a venture or the cost price of a product. Therefore, to 亏本 literally means to 'lose the capital.' This isn't just about not making a profit; it specifically refers to a situation where the revenue generated is less than the initial expenditure. In the bustling markets of China, you will hear vendors shouting that they are selling goods at a loss just to clear inventory, often using the phrase 亏本大甩卖 (kuīběn dà shuǎimài - a massive loss-making clearance sale). Understanding this word is crucial because it touches upon the very heart of the 'face' culture in business; admitting to 亏本 is often a strategic move to gain sympathy or to signal that a price is at its absolute floor.

Literal Meaning
To lose the principal investment or cost price.
Economic Context
Used when expenses exceed revenue in a specific transaction or business period.

我这批货要是再卖不出去，就要亏本了。 (Wǒ zhè pī huò yàoshi zài mài bù chūqù, jiù yào kuīběn le.)

Translation: If I can't sell this batch of goods, I'm going to lose money on it.

Beyond the literal financial loss, 亏本 is also used metaphorically in social exchanges. If someone does a huge favor for you that costs them significant time or effort without any return, they might jokingly or seriously say it was a 亏本买卖 (kuīběn mǎimai - a losing deal). It implies an imbalance where the output outweighs the input. In the context of modern Chinese startups, 亏本 is often seen as a necessary phase. Many tech giants operate on a '亏本' basis for years, burning through venture capital to acquire users before eventually seeking profitability. Thus, while the word has a negative literal connotation, its strategic application in business discourse can sometimes imply growth or market penetration efforts. However, for a small shop owner, 亏本 is the ultimate fear, representing a threat to their livelihood and the sustainability of their family business.

这家公司已经连续三年亏本经营了。 (Zhè jiā gōngsī yǐjīng liánxù sān nián kuīběn jīngyíng le.)

Translation: This company has been operating at a loss for three consecutive years.

In summary, 亏本 is more than just a financial term; it is a cultural marker of value, risk, and negotiation. Whether you are analyzing a corporate balance sheet or haggling over a souvenir in a narrow alleyway in Beijing, this word provides the linguistic framework for discussing the fundamental risk of any exchange: the possibility that what you get back won't be enough to cover what you put in.

Using 亏本 correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility as both a verb and an attributive (adjective-like) modifier. Most commonly, it functions as a verb meaning 'to lose money.' It can stand alone at the end of a sentence or be followed by a duration or extent. For example, 亏本了很多钱 (lost a lot of money) is a common way to quantify the loss. It is frequently paired with the particle 了 (le) to indicate a completed action or a change in state, as in 亏本了 (I've lost money/it's a loss now).

As a Verb
Used to describe the state of losing money. Example: 别做那种会亏本的事情。 (Don't do things that will make you lose money.)
As an Adjective/Modifier
Used before a noun (usually 'business' or 'deal') with '的' (de). Example: 这是一桩亏本的买卖。 (This is a loss-making deal.)

如果按这个价格卖，我们肯定要亏本。 (Rúguǒ àn zhège jiàgé mài, wǒmen kěndìng yào kuīběn.)

Translation: If we sell at this price, we will definitely lose money.

One of the most powerful ways to use 亏本 is in the construction 亏本经营 (kuīběn jīngyíng), which means 'operating at a loss.' This is a formal business term used to describe companies that are not yet profitable. On the flip side, in informal speech, you might hear 亏本赚个吆喝 (kuīběn zhuàn gè yāohe), which is a colorful idiom meaning to lose money just to get some attention or 'shouting' (publicity). It’s the equivalent of saying 'I'm losing money but at least people know my name now.'

宁可亏本，也要把信誉保住。 (Nìngkě kuīběn, yě yào bǎ xìnyù bǎozhù.)

Translation: I'd rather lose money than fail to maintain my reputation.

When talking about the amount lost, you can insert it between 亏 and 本 in some dialects, but it is much more standard to say 亏了 [amount]. For example, 亏了五百块 (lost 500 yuan). However, 亏本 as a compound is almost always treated as a single unit in modern Mandarin. Remember to use it when the context involves a price, an investment, or a trade-off.

If you walk through a Chinese 'wet market' or a wholesale clothing district like those in Guangzhou, 亏本 is part of the ambient noise. It is the language of the 'hustle.' Sellers use it as an ultimate persuasive tool. When a customer asks for a discount that is too deep, the seller will recoil and say, “这已经是在亏本卖了！” (This is already being sold at a loss!). Whether it’s true or not is secondary; the word serves to establish a boundary in the negotiation process.

老板，便宜点吧！——不行啊，再便宜我就要亏本了。 (Lǎobǎn, piányí diǎn ba! —— Bùxíng a, zài piányí wǒ jiù yào kuīběn le.)

Translation: Boss, make it cheaper! —— No way, any cheaper and I'll be losing money.

In the corporate world, you’ll hear 亏本 during quarterly earnings calls or financial news broadcasts. Analysts might discuss why a particular sector is 全行业亏本 (the whole industry is losing money). It’s also a staple in Chinese 'business dramas' (商战剧), where characters plot to make their rivals 亏本 to force them out of the market. In these contexts, the word carries a weight of high stakes and strategic failure.

News & Media
Used in reports about market crashes, failed startups, or economic downturns.
Street Markets
Used as a bargaining chip to resist price drops.

Social media and e-commerce live-streaming (like on Douyin or Taobao Live) have given 亏本 a new lease on life. Streamers often shout “亏本给福利！” (Losing money to give you benefits!) to create a sense of urgency and gratitude among viewers. In this digital era, the word has become a marketing buzzword synonymous with 'extreme discount,' even if the profit margins are actually quite healthy.

别看他表面风光，其实公司一直在亏本。 (Bié kàn tā biǎomiàn fēngguāng, qíshí gōngsī yīzhí zài kuīběn.)

Translation: Don't let his flashy appearance fool you; his company has actually been losing money all along.

Finally, you might hear it in personal conversations about investments. If someone bought stocks or real estate at a high price and the value dropped, they will lament that they are 亏本了. It expresses a deep sense of regret for a failed financial decision.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is confusing 亏本 (kuīběn) with other ways of saying 'to lose.' In English, 'lose' is a broad verb: you can lose a game, lose your keys, or lose money. In Chinese, these are all different words. Using 亏本 to mean you lost a football match (输 shū) or lost your phone (丢 diū) is a major mistake that will confuse native speakers.

Mistake 1: General Loss
Saying '我亏本了手机' (I lost my phone). Correct: 我丢了手机。
Mistake 2: Losing a Competition
Saying '我们在比赛中亏本了' (We lost in the competition). Correct: 我们在比赛中输了。

❌ 我在超市亏本了十块钱。 (I lost 10 yuan at the supermarket.)
✅ 我在超市丢了十块钱。

Explanation: '亏本' is for business transactions, not for misplacing money.

Another nuance is the difference between 亏本 and 赔钱 (péiqián). While they are often interchangeable, 赔钱 can also mean to pay damages or compensation to someone else. For example, if you break a window, you 赔钱 to the owner. You would never say you 亏本 to the owner. 亏本 is strictly about the math of a business deal going south.

Grammatically, learners sometimes try to use 亏本 as a noun like 'the loss.' While it can function as an adjective, it is rarely a standalone noun. Instead of saying 'The 亏本 was big,' you should say '损失 (sǔnshī - loss) 很大' or '亏了很多钱.' Also, remember that 亏本 is an intransitive verb phrase. You don't usually '亏本' something. You just '亏本' (lose money) OR '亏了 [amount]'.

❌ 这次交易是一个很大的亏本。
✅ 这次交易亏本亏得很厉害。

Note: Use '亏损' (kuīsǔn) if you want a formal noun for 'financial loss'.

Finally, avoid overusing it in formal academic writing where 亏损 (kuīsǔn) or 负债 (fùzhài) might be more precise. 亏本 has a slightly more colloquial, 'on-the-ground' merchant feel to it.

To truly master 亏本, you must understand its synonyms and how they differ in register and context. The most common alternative is 赔钱 (péiqián). In many casual conversations, they are nearly identical. However, 赔钱 is more versatile; it can mean losing money in business, but it also means paying out money for damages or penalties. If you hit someone's car, you 赔钱, but you don't 亏本.

亏本 vs. 赔钱
亏本: Specific to capital/investment loss.
赔钱: General loss of money OR paying compensation.
亏本 vs. 亏损 (kuīsǔn)
亏本: Colloquial, used by vendors and in daily life.
亏损: Formal, used in accounting, financial reports, and news.

这家餐厅因为地段不好，一直在赔钱。 (This restaurant is losing money because of the bad location.)

Note: '赔钱' is very common in spoken Chinese.

For more formal situations, use 亏损 (kuīsǔn). You will see this on a company’s balance sheet. It sounds more professional and objective. If a news anchor is talking about the national railway system's financial state, they will use 亏损, not 亏本. Another specialized term is 蚀本 (shíběn), which is more common in Cantonese or older literary Mandarin. It literally means 'eroding the capital' and carries a slightly more dramatic tone of the capital being eaten away.

There is also the term 亏欠 (kuīqiàn), which sounds similar but means to 'owe' someone something, often in an emotional sense. For instance, 我亏欠他很多 (I owe him a lot) refers to a debt of gratitude or a failure to do right by someone. Do not confuse this with financial loss. Lastly, consider 倒闭 (dǎobì), which is what happens if you 亏本 for too long—it means the business has completely collapsed or gone bankrupt.

由于长期亏损，那家工厂最终倒闭了。 (Due to long-term losses, that factory finally went bankrupt.)

This sentence shows the progression from financial loss to total closure.

By choosing between 亏本, 赔钱, and 亏损, you can signal your level of professionalism and your specific meaning with much greater accuracy.

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Exemples par niveau

1

我不卖了，因为会亏本。

I won't sell it because I will lose money.

Simple use of '亏本' as a reason.

2

买这个会亏本吗？

Will I lose money if I buy this?

Question form using '吗'.

3

老板说他亏本了。

The boss said he lost money.

Reported speech with '说'.

4

十块钱卖给你，我亏本了。

Selling it to you for ten yuan, I've lost money.

Colloquial usage in bargaining.

5

做生意不能亏本。

You can't lose money in business.

'不能' indicates prohibition or impossibility.

6

他亏本卖了苹果。

He sold apples at a loss.

亏本 used as an adverbial before the verb '卖'.

7

我不想亏本。

I don't want to lose money.

'不想' expresses desire.

8

亏本大甩卖！

Selling at a loss! Big sale!

Common advertising phrase.

1

如果再降价，我们就要亏本了。

If we lower the price further, we will lose money.

Condition '如果...就...'.

2

这不是一个亏本的生意。

This is not a loss-making business.

Using '亏本' as an adjective with '的'.

3

他因为亏本而感到难过。

He feels sad because of the loss.

Cause and effect with '因为...而...'.

4

这批货亏本卖掉了。

This batch of goods was sold at a loss.

Passive-like structure with '了'.

5

你这样做肯定会亏本的。

You will definitely lose money doing it this way.

'肯定' and '的' for emphasis.

6

他亏本亏了五千块。

He lost five thousand yuan.

Verb reduplication for resultative.

7

虽然亏本了，但他学到了经验。

Although he lost money, he gained experience.

Concession '虽然...但...'.

8

别做亏本买卖。

Don't do losing deals.

Imperative '别'.

1

为了清理库存，他们不得不亏本销售。

In order to clear inventory, they had to sell at a loss.

'为了' for purpose, '不得不' for necessity.

2

这种亏本经营模式无法长久。

This loss-making business model cannot last long.

Formal compound '亏本经营模式'.

3

他宁可亏本，也要把员工的工资发了。

He would rather lose money than fail to pay his employees.

'宁可...也要...' structure.

4

一旦开始亏本，就很难再赚回来了。

Once you start losing money, it's hard to make it back.

'一旦...就...' for conditional certainty.

5

很多人因为盲目投资而亏本。

Many people lose money due to blind investment.

'由于...而...' for formal cause.

6

这家公司连续几个月都在亏本。

This company has been losing money for several consecutive months.

Duration with '连续'.

7

亏本赚个吆喝，也是一种营销手段。

Losing money just for the publicity is also a marketing tactic.

Idiomatic expression usage.

8

他把亏本的原因归结为市场需求下降。

He attributed the loss to the decline in market demand.

'把...归结为' (attribute to).

1

该项目在初期阶段处于亏本状态是正常的。

It is normal for the project to be in a loss-making state in the initial stage.

Formal phrase '处于亏本状态'.

2

通过亏本补贴来抢占市场份额是常见的策略。

It is a common strategy to seize market share through loss-making subsidies.

Complex noun phrase '亏本补贴'.

3

如果没有政府支持，这家工厂早就亏本倒闭了。

Without government support, this factory would have gone bankrupt long ago.

Counterfactual conditional '如果...早就...'.

4

投资者最担心的是由于管理不善导致的亏本。

What investors fear most is loss caused by poor management.

Relative clause '由于...导致的'.

5

即便面临亏本的风险，他依然决定继续注资。

Even facing the risk of loss, he still decided to continue injecting capital.

'即便...依然...' (even if... still...).

6

这种亏本的买卖，傻子才会去做。

Only a fool would do such a loss-making deal.

Emphatic construction '...才...会'.

7

我们要分析一下为什么这笔交易会亏本。

We need to analyze why this transaction resulted in a loss.

Inquiry into cause.

8

亏本并不可怕，可怕的是找不到亏本的原因。

Losing money isn't scary; what's scary is not finding the reason for it.

Parallel structure '...不可怕，可怕的是...'.

1

尽管账面上在亏本，但公司的现金流依然充裕。

Although it's losing money on the books, the company's cash flow remains abundant.

Contrast between accounting loss and cash flow.

2

这种策略性亏本是为了在长期竞争中占据主动权。

This strategic loss is intended to gain the initiative in long-term competition.

Abstract noun '策略性亏本'.

3

在互联网行业，亏本圈地已经成为一种常态。

In the internet industry, losing money to seize territory has become a norm.

Industry-specific jargon '亏本圈地'.

4

他深陷沉没成本的陷阱，不愿停止亏本的业务。

He is deep in the sunk cost trap and unwilling to stop the loss-making business.

Psychological terminology '沉没成本'.

5

这次亏本对他的打击很大，他从此一蹶不振。

This financial loss was a huge blow to him; he never recovered from it.

Idiom '一蹶不振' (to never recover from a setback).

6

该企业的亏本额度已经超出了投资者的承受范围。

The enterprise's loss amount has exceeded the investors' tolerance range.

Formal noun '额度' and '承受范围'.

7

我们必须在亏本扩大之前及时止损。

We must stop the loss in time before it expands.

Financial term '止损' (stop-loss).

8

亏本不仅仅是数字上的减少，更是信心的动摇。

Losing money is not just a reduction in numbers, but a shaking of confidence.

Rhetorical '不仅是...更是...'.

1

在全球贸易战的背景下，许多出口企业面临严重的亏本压力。

Against the backdrop of the global trade war, many export enterprises face severe pressure of making losses.

Macroeconomic context.

2

这种亏本甩卖的行为可能涉嫌不正当竞争或倾销。

This act of selling at a loss may be suspected of unfair competition or dumping.

Legal terminology '倾销' (dumping).

3

亏本与盈利往往只有一线之隔，关键在于对时机的把控。

There is often only a thin line between loss and profit; the key lies in the control of timing.

Philosophical comparison.

4

他试图通过财务造假来掩盖公司长期亏本的事实。

He tried to cover up the fact of the company's long-term losses through financial fraud.

Crime/Ethics context '财务造假'.

5

在某些极端的市场条件下，亏本成为了企业存续的唯一代价。

Under certain extreme market conditions, making a loss becomes the only price for corporate survival.

Complex abstract thought.

6

该行业的亏本潮引发了连锁反应，导致了大规模的裁员。

The wave of losses in the industry triggered a chain reaction, leading to large-scale layoffs.

Metaphor '亏本潮' (wave of losses).

7

他对亏本的恐惧已经异化为一种对创新的排斥。

His fear of losing money has alienated into a rejection of innovation.

Psychological/Sociological verb '异化'.

8

亏本经营虽能短期获客，但若无变现逻辑，终将化为泡影。

Although operating at a loss can acquire customers in the short term, without a monetization logic, it will eventually vanish into thin air.

Classical/Modern hybrid style.

Collocations courantes

亏本生意
亏本经营
亏本大甩卖
严重亏本
亏本卖掉
宁可亏本
亏本风险
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