About
The character "亏" derives from the traditional form "虧", which was composed of the phonetic element "亏" alongside the semantic radicals "虍" and "隹", originally depicting a bird under tiger stripes to metaphorically convey a state of deficiency or loss. Etymologically, it traces back to an early concept of exhaling or sighing, implying something wanting or incomplete, which over time narrowed to specifically denote financial shortfalls, disadvantages, or insufficiencies. In modern usage, while maintaining these primary meanings of deficit and loss, it has also developed a secondary sense in constructive contexts such as "多亏", where it expresses gratitude or acknowledgment of a favorable outcome arising from averted lack, demonstrating a semantic shift from pure deficiency to the relief from it. The simplified form "亏" preserves this core notion by retaining the original phonetic component, shedding the more complex pictorial elements for functional clarity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这家店亏本了。
他做生意亏了钱。
多亏你的帮助。
幸亏我带了伞。
你不能亏待朋友。
这次投资亏了不少。
亏得你提醒，我才没忘记。
尽管市场不好，但他没有亏本。