cam4 mut6 sing4 bun2沉沒成本沉没成本

Jyutpingcam4 mut6 sing4 bun2

Yalechàhm muht sìhng bún

名詞

Definition

Sunk cost; a cost that has already been incurred and cannot be recovered.

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How it's used

Borrowing directly from economic theory, this term is frequently used in casual business discussions or when debating personal life decisions. It carries a slightly analytical or intellectual tone, often appearing in advice about cutting losses when a project or relationship is clearly failing.

Examples

nei5你m4唔hou2好zoi3再tau4投zi1資lok6落heoi3去，ni1呢di1啲hai6係cam4沉mut6沒sing4成bun2本lai2嚟㗎。

Don't invest any more money into this; these are sunk costs.

wai6為zo2咗m4唔soeng2想long6浪fai3費cam4沉mut6沒sing4成bun2本，keoi5佢kyut3決ding6定gai3繼zuk6續zou6做lok6落heoi3去。

He decided to keep going because he didn't want to waste the sunk costs.

Common phrases

haau2考leoi6慮cam4沉mut6沒sing4成bun2本

consider sunk costs

fat1忽loek6略cam4沉mut6沒sing4成bun2本

ignore sunk costs

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple loss, but the specific nuance is that the money or effort is already gone and cannot be recovered, making it irrelevant to future decision-making.