夠本（gòu běn）

Pronunciation: g-ou b-en

Basic Meaning: To have enough capital or resources to start a business or engage in an activity.

Detailed Explanation: The idiom "夠本" originates from the business world and refers to having enough financial resources or capital to start a business or engage in an activity. It implies that one has the necessary funds to sustain the operation and achieve success.

Usage Scenarios: This idiom is often used in the context of business or investment discussions. It can be used to describe a situation where someone has enough money to launch a business or to emphasize the importance of having sufficient capital for a venture.

Story Origin: The origin of this idiom can be traced back to ancient China, where merchants and businessmen had to have enough capital to start a business and cover their expenses. Without enough funds, it was difficult to sustain a business and make a profit. Therefore, having enough capital became a crucial factor for success in business.

Structure of the Idiom: The idiom "夠本" consists of two characters: "夠" (gòu), meaning "enough," and "本" (běn), meaning "capital" or "resources." Together, they convey the idea of having enough capital or resources for a specific purpose.

Example Sentences:

1. 他的投資夠本了嗎？(Tā de tóuzī gòu běn le ma?) - Did his investment have enough capital?

2. 這個項目需要多少錢才能夠本？(Zhè gè xiàngmù xūyào duōshǎo qián cáinéng gòu běn?) - How much money does this project need to be viable?

Memory Techniques: To remember the meaning of "夠本," you can visualize a businessman holding a bag of money, symbolizing having enough capital. Alternatively, you can associate the sound of "夠本" with the phrase "go beyond," reminding you of the concept of having enough resources to surpass the initial investment.

Extended Learning: To further understand the concept of "夠本," you can explore related idioms and phrases such as "本錢" (běn qián), meaning "capital," and "創業" (chuàng yè), meaning "entrepreneurship." Additionally, you can research famous entrepreneurs and their stories to gain insights into how they managed to have enough capital to start successful businesses.

Example Sentences from Different Age Groups:

1. Children (6-12 years old): 我要存錢買玩具，等我夠本了就可以買了！(Wǒ yào cún qián mǎi wánjù, děng wǒ gòu běn le jiù kěyǐ mǎi le!) - I want to save money to buy toys. When I have enough money, I can buy them!

2. Teenagers (13-18 years old): 我要先找一份兼職工作，賺夠本去旅行。(Wǒ yào xiān zhǎo yī fèn jiānzhí gōngzuò, zhuàn gòu běn qù lǚxíng.) - I want to find a part-time job first to earn enough money for traveling.

3. Adults (19+ years old): 我需要借貸一些資金才能夠本開辦自己的公司。(Wǒ xūyào jièdài yīxiē zījīn cáinéng gòu běn kāibàn zìjǐ de gōngsī.) - I need to borrow some funds to have enough capital to start my own company.