Meaning:

    “老婆” means “wife,” and “本” is short for “本

    钱,” which means “seed money.” Many Chinese men save money when they start working and the savings are supposed to be spent in the future on an apartment, home appliances and other things they need to marry a woman. Therefore, the money is called “老婆本” (money needed to get a wife).

    Example:

    A: 小李怎么愁眉苦脸的？

    Xiǎolǐ zěnme chóuméikǔliǎn de?

    Why does Xiaoli look sour?

    B: 最近股市不好，他之前赚的钱都亏了，听说老婆本都亏了不少。

    Zuìjìn gǔshì bù hǎo, tā zhīqián zhuàn de qián dōu kuī le, tīngshuō lǎopóběn dōu kuī le bùshǎo。

    The stock market has plummeted and he lost all he had previously earned. I hear he even lost much of the money he saved for his marriage.

    A: 股市风险大，不等着用的钱才可以投资股票啊。

    Gǔshì fēngxiǎn dà, bù děngzhe yòng de qián cái kěyǐ tǒuzī gǔpiào a。

    The stock market is pretty risky, and you can only invest with the money you would not need for a long time.