heavily in debt; deep in debt; debt-ridden
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to be heavily in debt; to be deep in debt (from the story of King Nan of Zhou who fled to a high tower to escape creditors)
formalOriginally referred to King Nan of Zhou of the Warring States period who fled to a high platform to escape creditors. Now used to describe being overwhelmed by debt. Often used in formal writing or news reports.
Tā他
yīn因
tóu投
zī资
shī失
bài败
ér而
zhài债
tái台
gāo高
zhù筑
，
bù不
dé得
bù不
xuān宣
bù布
pò破
chǎn产
。
He was heavily in debt due to investment failures and had to declare bankruptcy.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
zhài债
tái台
gāo高
zhù筑
，
yǐ已
jīng经
wú无
lì力
cháng偿
huán还
yín银
háng行
dài贷
kuǎn款
。
This company is debt-ridden and can no longer afford to repay its bank loans.
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Zhèng政
fǔ府
jǐng警
gào告
shuō说
，
rú如
guǒ果
jì继
xù续
jǔ举
zhài债
dù度
rì日
，
guó国
jiā家
jiāng将
huì会
zhài债
tái台
gāo高
zhù筑
。
The government warned that if they continued to live on borrowed money, the country would become overwhelmed by debt.
Tā他
guò过
qù去
zhài债
tái台
gāo高
zhù筑
，
dàn但
jīng经
guò过
duō多
nián年
de的
nǔ努
lì力
，
zhōng终
yú于
huán还
qīng清
le了
suǒ所
yǒu有
zhài债
wù务
。
He used to be deep in debt, but after years of hard work, he finally paid off all his debts.