血亏 (xuèkuī): anemia (TCM term)

Meanings

1 anemia (TCM term)
2 (slang) a huge financial loss

Characters

血

Examples

中医说她是血亏，建议多吃红枣。

Zhōngyī shuō tā shì xuèkuī, jiànyì duō chī hóngzǎo.

The TCM doctor said she's anemic and suggested she eat more red dates.

这单买卖血亏，赔了一半的本钱。

Zhè dān mǎimài xuèkuī, péi le yībàn de běnqián.

This deal was a bloodbath — we lost half our capital.

Tips

register

Two distinct senses: (1) Traditional Chinese medicine — anemia / blood deficiency (use 贫血 pínxuè in modern Western medicine). (2) Internet slang — taking a major loss, especially in shopping or trades. The slang sense is everywhere on Taobao reviews and stock-trading forums.

memory

亏 means 'lose / be short of.' 血亏 = 'short on blood' (medical) or 'losing blood-and-treasure' (slang). The vivid image — bleeding out money — is exactly why it took off online.