적자이다
It means a business or person is spending more money than they are making.
Explanation at your level:
You use 적자이다 when you lose money. If you spend 10 dollars but make 5, you are in 적자. It is like being sad with your money!
When a business spends more than it earns, we say it is 적자이다. It is the opposite of making a profit. People use this word to talk about money problems in a company.
The term 적자이다 is used to describe a financial deficit. It is common in news or business talk. If you see a company report, you might see this word if they are not doing well financially.
Beyond simple loss, 적자이다 implies a structural imbalance in finances. It is often used in formal reports to indicate that expenditures have outpaced revenues, requiring a change in strategy.
In advanced contexts, 적자이다 can be used to describe systemic issues. It suggests that the entity is failing to sustain its operations through its own income, often leading to debt or bankruptcy.
At a mastery level, 적자이다 is understood as a cultural signifier of fiscal failure. It links to the historical practice of 'red ink' accounting, representing a state of insolvency that requires immediate fiscal intervention or restructuring.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means financial deficit
- Opposite of 흑자
- Common in business
- Sino-Korean origin
When we say something is 적자이다, we are talking about a deficit. Think of it as a balance scale where the 'spending' side is heavier than the 'earning' side.
In the business world, this is a very common term. If a company's financial report shows they are 적자이다, it means they are currently losing money. It is the opposite of being profitable.
You can use this word for governments, small businesses, or even your own wallet. It is a helpful way to describe the reality of financial struggle in a very clear, objective way.
The word 적자 (jeok-ja) comes from Sino-Korean roots. 적 (赤) means 'red' and 자 (字) means 'character' or 'letter'.
Historically, accountants used red ink to record losses in a ledger. This is where the English idiom 'in the red' comes from as well, showing a fascinating cultural parallel! The term 적자 literally translates to 'red character'.
Over time, this term became the standard way in Korean to describe any financial deficit. It is a perfect example of how visual markers in accounting became part of our daily language.
You will hear 적자이다 most often in news reports about the economy or company earnings. It is a formal, professional term.
Common collocations include 적자 폭 (the size of the deficit) or 만성 적자 (chronic deficit). You might say '우리 회사는 올해 적자이다' (Our company is in a deficit this year).
While it is used in casual conversation, it is slightly more common in business or news contexts. It carries a serious tone, so use it when discussing actual financial situations.
1. 적자 행진: A continuous streak of financial losses. Example: 'The company is on a 적자 행진.'
2. 적자를 면하다: To avoid a deficit. Example: 'We barely managed to 적자를 면하다.'
3. 적자 폭을 줄이다: To reduce the amount of the deficit. Example: 'They are trying to 적자 폭을 줄이다.'
4. 만성 적자: A long-term, chronic deficit. Example: 'The department is in a 만성 적자 state.'
5. 적자로 전환하다: To turn into a deficit. Example: 'The firm 적자로 전환하다 after the market crash.'
Grammatically, 적자이다 functions as an adjective phrase. It is formed by the noun 적자 and the copula 이다.
In terms of pronunciation, it is pronounced [적짜이다] due to the tense sound rule in Korean. The stress is generally flat, typical of Korean speech patterns.
It does not have a plural form because it represents a state of being. It is a static descriptor used to define the financial status of a subject.
Fun Fact
Red ink was used in ledgers to denote losses.
Pronunciation Guide
Korean pronunciation
Korean pronunciation
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'j' sound
- Adding extra vowels
- Incorrect intonation
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Simple to write
Easy to say
Clear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Copula 이다
학생이다
Noun modification
적자이다는 사실
Tense rules
적자였다
Examples by Level
회사가 적자이다.
The company is in deficit.
Simple sentence structure.
돈이 적자이다.
The money is in a deficit.
Subject + noun + adjective.
올해는 적자이다.
This year is a deficit.
Time marker usage.
가게가 적자이다.
The shop is in deficit.
Location + copula.
매달 적자이다.
Every month is a deficit.
Frequency adverb.
우리는 적자이다.
We are in deficit.
Pronoun subject.
정말 적자이다.
It is truly a deficit.
Emphasis adverb.
지금 적자이다.
It is a deficit now.
Time adverb.
사업이 계속 적자이다.
올해 예산이 적자이다.
그들은 지금 적자이다.
우리 가게는 매달 적자이다.
정부 예산이 적자이다.
회사가 적자이다 보니 힘들다.
적자이다는 소식을 들었다.
결국 적자이다.
회사가 만성적인 적자이다.
올해는 작년보다 적자이다.
이 프로젝트는 시작부터 적자이다.
적자이다는 사실을 숨길 수 없다.
수출이 줄어 적자이다.
관리가 안 되어 적자이다.
적자이다는 것을 알고 투자했다.
결과적으로 적자이다.
회사가 적자이다 보니 구조조정을 한다.
예상보다 적자이다.
적자이다는 상황이 매우 심각하다.
운영비가 많아 적자이다.
적자이다는 지표가 나왔다.
경영진은 적자이다는 사실을 인정했다.
적자이다는 것은 곧 위기이다.
수입보다 지출이 많아 적자이다.
재정 상태가 적자이다는 것은 구조적 문제이다.
적자이다는 상황을 타개하기 위해 노력 중이다.
지속적인 적자이다는 현상은 위험하다.
회계상 적자이다는 결과가 도출되었다.
적자이다는 압박이 경영진을 짓누른다.
수익 모델이 없어 적자이다.
적자이다는 사실이 주가에 반영되었다.
단기적인 적자이다는 감수할 수 있다.
만성적 적자이다는 굴레에서 벗어나지 못하고 있다.
적자이다는 재무제표가 투자자들을 불안하게 한다.
국가 재정이 적자이다는 것은 심각한 거시경제적 문제이다.
적자이다는 상태를 회복하기 위해 긴축 정책을 폈다.
적자이다는 결과는 예견된 수순이었다.
적자이다는 사실을 은폐하려 했다는 의혹이 있다.
적자이다는 기록을 갱신했다.
적자이다는 고통을 분담하기로 했다.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"적자를 면치 못하다"
Unable to avoid a deficit
그들은 계속 적자를 면치 못하고 있다.
neutral"적자 투성이"
Full of deficits
이 회사는 적자 투성이다.
casual"적자 행진"
A series of deficits
3년째 적자 행진 중이다.
neutral"적자 폭을 키우다"
To increase the deficit amount
잘못된 투자로 적자 폭을 키웠다.
neutral"적자로 돌아섰다"
Turned into a deficit
흑자에서 적자로 돌아섰다.
neutral"적자 경영"
Managing with a deficit
적자 경영을 지속할 수 없다.
formalEasily Confused
Opposite meaning
Profit vs Loss
흑자 vs 적자
Similar meaning
Noun vs State
손실이 발생했다 vs 적자이다
Noun vs Adjective
Noun vs State
적자 vs 적자이다
Financial term
Debt vs Deficit
부채는 빚이다
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 적자이다
회사가 적자이다.
Subject + 만성 + 적자이다
가게가 만성 적자이다.
Subject + 적자이다는 + 사실
적자이다는 사실이 밝혀졌다.
Subject + 적자이다 보니 + 결과
적자이다 보니 힘들다.
Subject + 적자이다는 + 판단
적자이다는 판단을 내렸다.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
적자 is a noun, so it needs 이다.
They are opposites.
적자 is strictly financial.
적자 is for money only.
Standard spelling is 적자.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a red ledger.
Native Usage
Used in economic reports.
Cultural Insight
Red ink tradition.
Grammar Shortcut
It acts like an adjective.
Say It Right
Clear consonants.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse with profit.
Did You Know?
It means red character.
Study Smart
Learn with 흑자.
Context
Use in business.
Speaking Tip
Use a serious tone.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Red (적) + Character (자) = Red ink means loss!
Visual Association
A red ledger book.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to say 'My budget is 적자이다' in Korean.
Word Origin
Sino-Korean
Original meaning: Red character
Cultural Context
None
Directly maps to the concept of 'in the red'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- 적자 운영
- 적자 폭
- 적자 전환
school
- 경제 수업
- 재정 적자
- 이해하기
travel
- 여행 예산
- 적자 걱정
- 돈 관리
news
- 무역 적자
- 기업 적자
- 경제 위기
Conversation Starters
"Why do you think the company is 적자이다?"
"How can we avoid being 적자이다?"
"Is it common for startups to be 적자이다?"
"What happens when a country is 적자이다?"
"Have you ever been in a personal 적자이다?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you spent more than you earned.
Why is it important to avoid being 적자이다?
What would you do if your business was 적자이다?
How do you manage your finances to avoid being 적자이다?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is an adjective phrase.
Yes, if you are talking about money.
흑자이다.
It is standard in professional settings.
No.
Sino-Korean roots.
Generally, no.
Very common in news.
Test Yourself
회사가 ___.
적자이다 fits the context of business loss.
What does 적자이다 mean?
It refers to deficit.
적자이다 means making a lot of money.
It means losing money.
Word
Meaning
These are financial opposites.
Subject + Time + Predicate.
올해 우리 가게는 ___ 상태이다.
적자 fits the deficit context.
적자이다 is a verb.
It is an adjective phrase.
Which is a synonym for 적자?
손실 means loss.
Subject + Modifier + Predicate.
경영진은 ___ 사실을 인정했다.
적자이다 fits the context of admitting failure.
Score: /10
Summary
적자이다 means you are spending more than you are earning, which is a state of financial loss.
- Means financial deficit
- Opposite of 흑자
- Common in business
- Sino-Korean origin
Memory Palace
Visualize a red ledger.
Native Usage
Used in economic reports.
Cultural Insight
Red ink tradition.
Grammar Shortcut
It acts like an adjective.
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