small profit; meager margin; narrow returns
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
meager profit; tiny profit; narrow margin; slim returns
Often used in business contexts to describe low-margin operations or minimal gains. Frequently appears in the idiom 蝇头微利.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
kào靠
bó薄
lì利
duō多
xiāo销
，
suī虽
rán然
měi每
bǐ笔
zhī只
shì是
wēi微
lì利
，
dàn但
zǒng总
liàng量
kě可
guān观
。
This company relies on small profits but quick turnover; although each transaction yields only a narrow margin, the total volume is considerable.
Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
wèi为
le了
yíng蝇
tóu头
wēi微
lì利
ér而
sǔn损
hài害
cháng长
qī期
xìn信
yù誉
。
We cannot damage our long-term reputation for the sake of petty gains.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Jīng经
yíng营
duō多
nián年
，
tā他
zhǐ只
néng能
zhuàn赚
qǔ取
wēi微
bó薄
wēi微
lì利
，
miǎn勉
qiǎng强
wéi维
chí持
shēng生
jì计
。
After years of operation, he could only earn a meager profit, barely making ends meet.