够本 (gòu běn) — to break even, to cover the cost; (figurative) to be worthwhile, to be advantageous

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning to break even on a deal, and by extension to feel it was worth the cost. 够本 is a separable verb: 够了本 or 够得上本 when inserting aspect/degree.

verb
to break evento cover the cost(figurative) to be worthwhileto be advantageous

Examples

  • 够本，。
    Zhè pī huò wǒ men zhī mài le gòu běn, méi zhuàn qián.
    We sold this batch of goods just at break-even, no profit.
  • ，。
    Zhè cì jiāo yì wǒ men gòu le běn, bù kuī yě bú zhuàn.
    This deal we covered costs — neither lost nor made money.
  • ，够本。
    Yòng zhè ge jià gé mǎi dào zhè yàng hǎo de dōng xī, zhēn gòu běn.
    Getting such a good thing at this price is really worth it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

够gòureach/be enough
本běncost/capital

够 means reach or be enough, and 本 means cost or capital, so the word conveys covering the cost.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 夠; 够 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
多多duō
Sound part声符shēngfú
句
句jù夠gòu
Same sound today

In the traditional form 夠, 多 is the part tied to the meaning and 句 is the part that gives the sound; the simplified 够 is a later shorthand.

Open 够 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →

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