kuīqián: 亏钱 - To Lose Money

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 亏钱 (kuīqián), the essential Chinese term for “to lose money.” This guide breaks down how to use 亏钱 when talking about business, investments, or any situation involving a financial loss. Discover its cultural significance, see practical example sentences, and understand how it differs from simply “spending money” (花钱).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kuīqián
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Verb-Object)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To lose money; to suffer a financial loss.
• In a Nutshell: 亏钱 (kuīqián) is the direct opposite of 赚钱 (zhuànqián), which means “to make money.” It describes any situation where you end up with less money than you started with, typically in a commercial context like running a business, investing in the stock market, or even making a bad purchase. The term carries a distinctly negative and disappointing feeling.

• 亏 (kuī): This character's core meaning is “loss,” “deficiency,” or “deficit.” Think of it as a state of being less than whole or having a shortfall.
• 钱 (qián): This character simply means “money.” The radical on the left, 金 (jīn), means “gold” or “metal,” reflecting the ancient origins of currency.

When combined, 亏钱 (kuīqián) forms a very direct and literal meaning: “loss of money.”

In Chinese culture, where financial prudence, saving for the future, and stability are highly valued, 亏钱 is more than just a financial term—it's a significant negative outcome. It can be associated with a loss of face (面子 (miànzi)), suggesting poor judgment, a lack of foresight, or simply bad luck. To an American or Western learner, it's useful to contrast this with the “fail fast, fail often” startup culture prevalent in places like Silicon Valley. In that context, losing money on a venture can sometimes be framed as a valuable learning experience or a necessary risk. In a more traditional Chinese context, however, 亏钱 is almost universally seen as a failure to be avoided. The goal is steady, predictable gain, not high-risk, high-reward gambles. This mindset is rooted in a history where resources were often scarce, and losing the family's savings could have dire consequences. Therefore, admitting you 亏钱了 (kuīqián le - lost money) can be a difficult and embarrassing confession.

亏钱 is an extremely common term used in various aspects of modern life.

• Business and Investing: This is the most common context. People constantly talk about whether a business venture or a stock market investment is 赚钱 (zhuànqián) or 亏钱 (kuīqián).
  • e.g., “他开的奶茶店去年亏钱了。” (His milk tea shop lost money last year.)
• Personal Finance: It can be used for smaller-scale personal losses, like selling a used item for less than you paid for it or buying something that turned out to be a waste.
  • e.g., “我这个手机卖亏了。” (I sold this phone at a loss.) Note here 亏 is used without 钱.
• Gambling and Games: It's frequently used when discussing losses from playing cards, mahjong, or other forms of gambling.
  • e.g., “昨晚打麻将你亏钱了吗？” (Did you lose money playing mahjong last night?)

The term is generally informal to neutral in formality and is used in everyday conversation. Its connotation is always negative.

• Example 1:
  • 今年生意不好做，很多公司都在亏钱。
  • Pinyin: Jīnnián shēngyì bù hǎo zuò, hěn duō gōngsī dōu zài kuīqián.
  • English: Business is tough this year; a lot of companies are losing money.
  • Analysis: A common observation about the general economic climate.
• Example 2:
  • 我劝你不要买那只股票，小心亏钱。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ quàn nǐ búyào mǎi nà zhī gǔpiào, xiǎoxīn kuīqián.
  • English: I advise you not to buy that stock, be careful of losing money.
  • Analysis: Here, 亏钱 is used as a warning about a potential negative outcome.
• Example 3:
  • 他第一次做生意，因为没经验，亏了不少钱。
  • Pinyin: Tā dì yī cì zuò shēngyì, yīnwèi méi jīngyàn, kuī le bù shǎo qián.
  • English: It was his first time doing business, and because he lacked experience, he lost quite a bit of money.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows that adjectives like “a lot” (不少) can be placed between 亏 and 钱.
• Example 4:
  • 虽然这个月我们没赚钱，但至少也没亏钱。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán zhège yuè wǒmen méi zhuànqián, dàn zhìshǎo yě méi kuīqián.
  • English: Although we didn't make a profit this month, at least we didn't lose money.
  • Analysis: This highlights the direct opposition between 赚钱 (zhuànqián) and 亏钱 (kuīqián).
• Example 5:
  • 开餐厅看起来容易，实际上很容易亏钱。
  • Pinyin: Kāi cāntīng kànqǐlái róngyì, shíjìshang hěn róngyì kuīqián.
  • English: Opening a restaurant seems easy, but in reality, it's very easy to lose money.
  • Analysis: A general statement about the risks of a particular industry.
• Example 6:
  • 你卖那套房子亏钱了吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ mài nà tào fángzi kuīqián le ma?
  • English: Did you lose money when you sold that apartment?
  • Analysis: A direct question about a specific transaction.
• Example 7:
  • 为了吸引顾客，我们宁可亏钱也要做这次促销。
  • Pinyin: Wèile xīyǐn gùkè, wǒmen nìngkě kuīqián yě yào zuò zhè cì cùxiāo.
  • English: In order to attract customers, we would rather lose money to do this promotion.
  • Analysis: This shows a strategic loss, also known as a “loss leader” in English business terms.
• Example 8:
  • 我不想投资了，我怕亏钱。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bùxiǎng tóuzī le, wǒ pà kuīqián.
  • English: I don't want to invest anymore, I'm afraid of losing money.
  • Analysis: Expresses a common fear related to financial risk.
• Example 9:
  • 他把所有的积蓄都投进去了，结果亏得一塌糊涂。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ suǒyǒu de jīxù dōu tóu jìnqù le, jiéguǒ kuī de yītāhútú.
  • English: He invested all his savings, and as a result, he lost a complete mess (lost disastrously).
  • Analysis: Here 亏 is used as a verb followed by a degree complement (得一塌糊涂). This is a very vivid way to describe a huge loss.
• Example 10:
  • 这笔买卖你到底是赚了还是亏了？
  • Pinyin: Zhè bǐ mǎimài nǐ dàodǐ shì zhuàn le háishì kuī le?
  • English: For this transaction, did you end up making a profit or taking a loss?
  • Analysis: A common A-or-B question contrasting the two possible outcomes. Note the shortened form 亏 is used.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 亏钱 (kuīqián) with 花钱 (huāqián).

• 亏钱 (kuīqián) - To Lose Money: This implies a net loss. You started with a certain amount of money, and after a transaction or venture, you have less. It's the result of a bad investment or a business failing.
• 花钱 (huāqián) - To Spend Money: This is a neutral term for the act of spending. You 花钱 to buy food, clothes, or movie tickets. It's a normal exchange of money for goods or services, not a loss.

Incorrect Usage Example:

• Mistake: 我昨天亏钱买了一本书。(Wǒ zuótiān kuīqián mǎile yī běn shū.)
• Why it's wrong: This literally means “I lost money buying a book yesterday,” which implies you were cheated or it was a bad investment. Unless the book was worthless and you feel ripped off, you are simply describing the act of spending.
• Correct: 我昨天花钱买了一本书。(Wǒ zuótiān huāqián mǎile yī běn shū.) - “I spent money to buy a book yesterday.”

Think of it this way: All instances of 亏钱 involve 花钱 (spending/investing money) first, but not all instances of 花钱 result in 亏钱.

• 赚钱 (zhuànqián) - The direct antonym of 亏钱. It means “to make money” or “to earn a profit.”
• 赔钱 (péiqián) - A very close synonym, often meaning “to lose money in business.” It can sometimes carry a stronger nuance of having to compensate for a loss, but in many contexts, it's interchangeable with 亏钱.
• 花钱 (huāqián) - The neutral act of spending money, as explained above.
• 投资 (tóuzī) - To invest. The action that often leads to either 赚钱 or 亏钱.
• 破产 (pòchǎn) - To go bankrupt. This is the most extreme form of 亏钱.
• 吃亏 (chīkuī) - To suffer a loss or be taken advantage of. This is a broader concept that isn't always about money. For example, if you do someone's work for them and get no credit, you can say you 吃亏了.
• 省钱 (shěngqián) - To save money; to be frugal. The opposite of spending wastefully.
• 成本 (chéngběn) - Cost (noun). The initial amount of money spent on a business or product. The goal is to make revenue exceed the 成本.
• 利润 (lìrùn) - Profit (noun). The money you 赚 (zhuàn) after subtracting costs. The opposite of a financial loss.