Definition
本钱 is the informal, everyday word for the capital or startup money for a business, and (figuratively) any personal resource (experience, connections) that you can 'use' as an asset. Unlike the technical economic term 资本 (zīběn) or the more general 'funds' 资金 (zījīn), 本钱 feels concrete and conversational. Its figurative 'advantage' sense differs from 优势 (yōushì), which emphasizes a comparative edge.
noun
capital (money used to start or operate a business)(figurative) assetadvantagethe means to do something
Examples
- 本钱。Tā kào jiè lái de běn qián kāi le yì jiā xiǎo diàn.He opened a small shop with borrowed capital.
- 本钱。Tā de jīngyàn hé rénmài shì tā zuì dà de běn qián.Her experience and connections are her greatest asset.
- 本钱。Tā yǒu zúgòu de běn qián qù shíxiàn zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng.He has enough means to realize his dream.
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