wui4 bun2回本
Jyutpingwui4 bun2
Yalewùih bún
Definition
To recover an initial cost; to break even on an original investment.
colloquialmoneyfood
How it's used
Commonly used in the context of buffet dining where customers aim to eat enough expensive food to justify the ticket price. It implies a strategic calculation of value versus cost. Beyond dining, it is frequently applied to business investments or even personal purchases where one assesses if the utility gained matches the money spent.
Examples
You will break even after eating a few more plates of sashimi.
How long does it take for this plan to recover the initial cost?
Related words
Common phrases
to eat enough to get one's money's worth
to break even very quickly
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 賺錢 which simply means to make a profit. 回本 specifically refers to the point where you have recovered your initial expenditure, not necessarily the point where you start accumulating surplus wealth.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
