Trade deficit (贸易逆差)

Trade deficit (贸易逆差 mào yì nì chā) is a measure of trade balance where the difference  (差别/差 chā bié/chā) of total value between a country’s exports and its imports is negative (负/逆 fù/nì). Also see: trade (贸易 mào yì); customs union (关税同盟 guān shuì tóng méng); trade agreement (贸易协定 mào yì xié dìng).

Part 1: Breakdown of Words

• “Trade” (贸易 mào yì) as in “trade agreement” (贸易协定 mào yì xié dìng), or “trade balance (贸易差额 mào yì chā é).
  • “贸” (mào) has the radical “贝”  (bèi) which means “shell” (贝壳 bèi ké). 贝 (bèi) was originally used as money in ancient times.
  • 易 (yì) as in “easy” (容易 róng yì) or “deal” (交易 jiāo yì).
• “Deficit” (逆差 nì chā, or 赤字 chì zì) as in “budget deficit” (预算赤字 yù suàn chì zì).
  • “逆” (nì) as in “rebel” (叛逆 pàn nì), “reverse direction” (逆向 nì xiàng), or “adverse price” (逆价 nì jià).
  • “差” (chā) as in “difference” (差异 chā yì), “gap/disparity” (差距 chā jù), or “error” (差错 chā cuò).