owe a debt; have unfulfilled obligations
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesverb
to owe a debt; to have unpaid obligations
Used literally for financial debts, or metaphorically for unfulfilled duties, promises, or historical responsibilities.
Yóu由
yú于
jīng经
yíng营
bù不
shàn善
，
qǐ企
yè业
qiàn欠
le了
bù不
shǎo少
zhài债
。
Due to poor management, the company owes a lot of debt.
Zhè这
ge个
chéng城
shì市
zài在
jī基
chǔ础
shè设
shī施
jiàn建
shè设
fāng方
miàn面
qiàn欠
zhài债
tài太
duō多
。
This city has too much unfulfilled obligation in terms of infrastructure construction.
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Tā他
qiàn欠
le了
rén人
qíng情
zhài债
，
zǒng总
xiǎng想
zhe着
yào要
huán还
。
He owes a favor and always thinks about repaying it.
Gōng公
sī司
zài在
huán环
bǎo保
fāng方
miàn面
lì历
shǐ史
qiàn欠
zhài债
yán严
zhòng重
。
The company has a severe historical deficit in environmental protection.
noun
debt; unfulfilled obligation or promise
Refers to the specific amount of money owed or the specific promise that remains unfulfilled.
Tā他
nǔ努
lì力
gōng工
zuò作
，
zhōng终
yú于
huán还
qīng清
le了
suǒ所
yǒu有
qiàn欠
zhài债
。
He worked hard and finally paid off all his debts.
Zhè这
bǐ笔
qiàn欠
zhài债
tuō拖
le了
sān三
nián年
，
bì必
xū须
jǐn尽
kuài快
jiě解
jué决
。
This debt has been outstanding for three years and must be resolved as soon as possible.
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Duì对
hái孩
zi子
de的
péi陪
bàn伴
，
shì是
wǒ我
xīn心
lǐ里
zuì最
dà大
de的
gǎn感
qíng情
qiàn欠
zhài债
。
Spending time with my child is the biggest emotional debt in my heart.