还账 (huán zhàng) — to pay off a debt; to settle an account

Definition

A set phrase (离合词) meaning 'pay off a debt / settle an account.' Insert aspect or result complements between 还 and 账, e.g. 还了账, 还完账.

verb
to pay off a debtto settle an account

Examples

  • 还账。
    Tā měi gè yuè dōu àn shí huán zhàng.
    He pays off his debts on time every month.
  • ，。
    Wǒ yǐ jīng hái le zhàng, bú yòng zài dān xīn le.
    I've already paid off the debt, no need to worry anymore.
  • ？
    Zhè bǐ zhàng nǐ shén me shí hou néng hái wán?
    When can you finish paying off this debt?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

还háirepay
账zhàngdebt

还 means to return or pay, and 账 is the debt being settled.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 還; 还 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
睘
睘qióng還hái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 還 pairs 辵 (walk) with 睘 as a sound part for 'go back; return'; the simplified 还 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 还 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 賬; 账 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishell
Sound part声符shēngfú
長
長cháng賬
Same sound today

In the traditional form 賬, 貝 is a shell and 長 is used for the sound; the simplified 账 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 账 →

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