pay off a debt; repay
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to pay off a debt; to repay what one owes
A separable verb (离合词). Can be split with aspect particles (还了债), modifiers (还清债), or objects (还他的债). Used for both financial debts and moral obligations.
Tā他
yòng用
le了
wǔ五
nián年
shí时
jiān间
zhōng终
yú于
huán还
qīng清
le了
suǒ所
yǒu有
de的
zhài债
。
It took him five years to finally pay off all his debts.
Qiàn欠
zhài债
huán还
qián钱
，
tiān天
jīng经
dì地
yì义
。
Paying back debts is only natural and right.
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Tā他
dǎ打
suàn算
yòng用
nián年
zhōng终
jiǎng奖
jīn金
lái来
huán还
zhài债
。
He plans to use his year-end bonus to pay off his debts.
Zhè这
bǐ笔
zhài债
yǐ已
jīng经
tuō拖
le了
tài太
jiǔ久
le了
，
gāi该
huán还
le了
。
This debt has been delayed for too long; it's time to pay it back.