gei1 wui6 sing4 bun2機會成本机会成本

Jyutpinggei1 wui6 sing4 bun2

Yalegēi wuih sìhng bún

名詞

Definition

Opportunity cost; the value of the next best alternative given up when making a choice.

neutralworkmoney

How it's used

Economic terminology often sounds stiff in casual conversation, but this term is frequently used in business and academic discussions among Hong Kongers. It functions as a formal noun phrase that describes the hidden trade-offs in decision-making. It is rarely used in purely social settings unless the speaker is making a point about life choices or career paths.

Examples

duk6讀syu1書jiu3要gaau1交hok6學fai3費，zung6仲jau5有gei1機wui6會sing4成bun2本㗎。

Studying requires tuition fees, and there is also an opportunity cost.

nei5你gaan2揀le1呢fan2份gung1工，jau5有mou5冇nam2諗gwo3過gei1機wui6會sing4成bun2本？

Have you considered the opportunity cost when choosing this job?

Common phrases

haau2考leoi6慮gei1機wui6會sing4成bun2本

consider the opportunity cost

gai3計syun3算gei1機wui2會sing4成bun2本

calculate the opportunity cost

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse this with the general concept of a cost or price, but it specifically refers to the value of the next best alternative forgone. It is not a monetary expense you pay out of pocket, but a conceptual loss.