What does 吃亏 mean in Chinese?

吃亏 (chī kuī) means "to suffer losses; to come to grief; to lose out; to get the worst of it; to be at a disadvantage; unfortunately" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 7-9.

How do you pronounce 吃亏?

吃亏 is pronounced "chī kuī" in Mandarin Chinese. It is made up of 2 syllables.

What HSK level is 吃亏?

吃亏 is an HSK 7-9 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 5 on the old exam, HSK 7-9 on the new one.

What characters make up 吃亏?

吃亏 is made up of the characters 吃, 亏. Each character has its own meaning and can appear in other words.

How do you write 吃亏?

You can practice writing 吃亏 using our stroke order tool.

吃亏 (chī kuī), to suffer losses

吃亏

chī kuī

to suffer losses; to come to grief; to lose out; to get the worst of it

HSK 7-9 Was HSK 5verb

Traditional: 吃虧

Characters in This Word

吃亏

Definitions

(verb) to suffer losses
to come to grief
to lose out
to get the worst of it
to be at a disadvantage
unfortunately

Example Sentences

做生意不能怕吃亏。

Zuò shēngyi bù néng pà chīkuī

In business, you can't be afraid of suffering losses

Related Words

肩负(jiān fù)· to shoulder (a burden)

→

塌架(tā jià)· to collapse

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 7-9
HSK 2.0: HSK 5
HSK Lord study list: HSK 9 list

吃亏: HSK 5 on the old exam, HSK 7-9 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 7-9 exam

Studying for HSK 7-9? Keep 吃亏 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each word comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.