bun2 ngan4本銀本银
Jyutpingbun2 ngan4
Yalebún ngàhn
Definition
Principal; capital or the original sum of money invested or lent.
colloquialmoneywork
How it's used
Refers specifically to the initial investment or principal money used to start a venture. It carries a slightly old fashioned or nostalgic tone compared to modern terms like 資本 or 成本. You will often hear it used by older generations or in contexts discussing small scale traditional businesses.
Examples
How much capital do you need to set aside for your business?
He has no capital left, how can he open a shop to do business?
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 銀行, which means bank. Learners sometimes mistake the sound for a banking term, but it specifically refers to the money itself rather than the institution.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
