income

income — noun

1. The regular flow of money someone receives from working, from investments or pro

1.名詞A2
釋義

The regular flow of money someone receives from working, from investments or property they own, or from government support such as a pension.

例句

After Naoko got her first job, she earned a monthly income for the first time.

Samir's investment income from rental properties allowed him to retire at fifty-five.

collocation: investment income

同義詞
  • earnings

    more specific to money gained from work or investments over time, often used in official contexts

  • salary

    limited to a fixed regular payment from an employer, usually expressed as an annual figure

  • wages

    hourly or daily pay, typically for manual or part-time work

  • revenue

    used mostly for organizations or governments, not individuals

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently uncountable when the focus is on a general flow of money; countable when specifying a particular amount or source ('They now have two incomes from different jobs').

常見錯誤

❌I earn a big income from my job.
✅I earn a high income from my job.
💡'Big' is not the natural collocate with 'income'; use 'high' or 'large.'
❌My income is only my salary.
✅My income includes my salary, investment returns, and some freelance payments.
💡Income is broader than salary; it covers all money received, not just pay from a job.

2. The money that a business earns from its activities during a specific period, es

2.名詞B2
釋義

The money that a business earns from its activities during a specific period, especially the amount that remains after costs have been deducted.

例句

The company reported a net income of five million dollars this quarter.

collocation: net income

Élise's job was to prepare the income statement before the board meeting.

同義詞
  • profit

    emphasizes what remains after all expenses are subtracted; slightly narrower than 'income'

  • revenue

    total money coming in before any costs are deducted; broader than 'income'

  • earnings

    common in financial reporting ('earnings per share'); interchangeable with 'income' in many business contexts

反義詞
  • loss

    when expenses exceed income

用法筆記

In business contexts, 'income' is often paired with a modifier such as 'net,' 'gross,' or 'operating' to specify what is included. Distinguish from 'revenue,' which refers to total money coming in before any costs are subtracted.

常見錯誤

❌The company's income was five million dollars before paying any costs.
✅The company's revenue was five million dollars before costs; its net income was lower.
💡For pre-cost figures, use 'revenue'; 'income' usually means earnings after relevant deductions.