Bottom line
Significado: The final result or most important factor, especially financially; the net profit or loss.
The 'bottom line' literally refers to the last line on a financial statement showing net profit or loss. In everyday use, 'the bottom line is...' means 'the most important thing is...' It's used constantly in American business and conversation.
Ejemplos
- The bottom line is we need to cut costs or we're in trouble. 关键是,我们必须削减成本,否则就麻烦了。La conclusión es que tenemos que recortar gastos o estamos en un aprieto.結論は、コストを削減しないとやばいってことだ。결론은, 비용을 줄이지 않으면 큰일 난다는 거야.
- Don't give me excuses — what's the bottom line? 别找借口了——到底结果怎么样?No me des excusas — ¿cuál es el resultado final?言い訳はいいから——結局どうなったの?변명은 됐고——결론이 뭔데?
- The bottom line for the quarter was a $2 million profit. 本季度的最终利润是200万美元。El resultado final del trimestre fue un beneficio de 2 millones de dólares.今四半期の最終利益は200万ドルの黒字だった。이번 분기 최종 수익은 200만 달러 흑자였어.
Pronunciación
Guía de uso
Contexto: business, meetings, everyday conversation, arguments
Tono: direct, no-nonsense
✓ Correcto
- What's the bottom line?关键是什么?¿Cuál es la conclusión?結局どうなの?결론이 뭐야?
- The bottom line is we can't afford it.关键是我们负担不起。La conclusión es que no nos lo podemos permitir.結論は、うちには払えないってことだ。결론은, 우리가 감당할 수 없다는 거야.
✗ Incorrecto
- So widely used it's no longer slang — it's standard American business English使用范围极广,已经不算俚语了——是标准的美式商务英语Tan ampliamente usado que ya no es argot — es inglés de negocios estándar en Estados Unidosあまりにも広く使われているのでもはやスラングではない——アメリカのビジネス英語の標準表現너무 널리 쓰여서 더 이상 슬랭이 아니다 — 표준 미국 비즈니스 영어
Origen e historia
From accounting — the bottom line of a financial statement is the net income. Figurative use ('the final or most important point') became common in American English in the 1960s-70s.
Contexto cultural
Era: 1960s onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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