year-end; hard times for debtors
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
year-end (esp. lunar new year); difficult period for debtors
Originally referred to the lunar year-end when debts were collected, making it a difficult 'barrier' for debtors to pass. Still used today to describe financial pressure at year-end.
Měi每
dào到
nián年
guān关
，
lǎo老
bǎn板
dōu都
yào要
máng忙
zhe着
shōu收
zhàng账
。
Every year-end, the boss is busy collecting debts.
Jiù旧
shí时
qióng穷
rén人
zuì最
pà怕
guò过
nián难
guān关
，
yīn因
wèi为
zhài债
zhǔ主
dōu都
huì会
shàng上
mén门
。
In the past, poor people feared the year-end the most, because creditors would come to their doors.
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Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
de的
nián年
guān关
bù不
hǎo好
guò过
，
zī资
jīn金
liàn链
chū出
le了
wèn问
tí题
。
This company is having a hard time at year-end, with problems in their capital chain.
Nián年
guān关
jiāng将
jìn近
，
jiē街
shàng上
dào到
chù处
dōu都
shì是
bàn办
nián年
huò货
de的
rén人
。
As the year-end approaches, the streets are filled with people buying New Year goods.