kwai1 sit6虧蝕亏蚀
Jyutpingkwai1 sit6
Yalekwāi siht
Definition
To lose money; to suffer a financial loss.
neutralmoneywork
How it's used
Focuses specifically on financial losses in business or investment contexts rather than general loss. It carries a slightly formal tone compared to the more common colloquial term 蝕錢. It is frequently used in professional or news reporting settings to describe a company's negative balance sheet.
Examples
Why did you lose so much money doing business?
Related words
Common phrases
serious financial loss
long-term financial loss
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 蝕底, which refers to being at a disadvantage or getting a raw deal in a social or personal situation rather than a monetary loss.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
