本钱

本錢

běnqián

noun HSK 7 #18,497

Meanings

1 capital; principal (money invested)
2 one's assets or advantages

Characters

root; original; capital

Literally 'root money' — the original money you invest, before any profit.

Examples

做生意要先有本钱。

Zuò shēngyì yào xiān yǒu běnqián.

To do business, you first need capital.

年轻就是你最大的本钱。

Niánqīng jiùshì nǐ zuì dà de běnqián.

Youth is your greatest asset.

Tips

usage

本钱 has a vivid figurative meaning: any advantage or resource you can leverage. 身体是革命的本钱 ('health is the capital of revolution') is a famous saying meaning health is your most important asset.

Stroke Order

本 běn

钱 qián