owe money; be in debt
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to owe money or goods; to be in debt
neutralOften used in the context of informal debts between acquaintances. It can refer to both money and physical items.
Zuò做
shēng生
yì意
shī失
bài败
hòu后
，
tā他
gāi该
qiàn欠
le了
gōng供
yīng应
shāng商
yī一
dà大
bǐ笔
qián钱
。
After his business failed, he owed a large sum of money to the supplier.
Shàng上
cì次
jiè借
nǐ你
de的
gōng工
jù具
，
wǒ我
yī一
zhí直
méi没
huán还
，
zhēn真
shì是
gāi该
qiàn欠
nǐ你
le了
。
I still haven't returned the tools I borrowed from you last time; I really owe you.
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Tā他
wéi为
rén人
hěn很
jiǎng讲
xìn信
yòng用
，
cóng从
bù不
gāi该
qiàn欠
rén人
qíng情
。
He is a man of his word and never leaves favors unpaid.
Wǒ我
men们
liàng量
rù入
wéi为
chū出
，
cóng从
lái来
bù不
gāi该
qiàn欠
bié别
rén人
de的
。
We live within our means and never owe anyone anything.