break even; equal gains and losses
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to break even in business or gambling; to neither lose nor gain
In spoken Chinese, this word often takes an optional -r suffix (够本儿) and is used to describe recovering one's initial investment or capital.
Zhè这
bǐ笔
shēng生
yì意
gāng刚
hǎo好
gòu够
běn本
。
This business deal barely broke even.
Tā他
zài在
dǔ赌
chǎng场
wán玩
le了
yī一
wǎn晚
shang上
，
zuì最
hòu后
gòu够
běn本
r儿
zǒu走
le了
。
He played at the casino all night and finally left having broken even.
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Xiǎo小
běn本
mǎi买
mài卖
，
néng能
gòu够
běn本
jiù就
suàn算
bù不
cuò错
le了
。
For small businesses, breaking even is already considered pretty good.
verb
to break even figuratively; to have equal gains and losses
This is a figurative extension of the literal meaning, used to describe any situation where costs and benefits, or losses and gains, are balanced.
Suī虽
rán然
xīn辛
kǔ苦
，
dàn但
xué学
dào到
le了
jīng经
yàn验
，
yě也
suàn算
gòu够
běn本
le了
。
Although it was hard work, I gained experience, so it broke even.
Zhè这
cì次
xíng行
dòng动
fēng风
xiǎn险
hěn很
dà大
，
zhǐ只
yào要
méi没
rén人
shāng伤
wáng亡
，
jiù就
suàn算
gòu够
běn本
le了
。
This operation is very risky; as long as there are no casualties, it will be considered breaking even.