Definition
债 (zhài) is the noun 'debt' — the money you owe. 欠 (qiàn) is the verb 'to owe', so you 欠债 (owe a debt). 债务 (zhài wù) is a more formal, legal term for 'debt' or 'liability', often used in contracts or finance. 债券 (zhài quàn) is a 'bond' — a financial instrument, not a personal debt.
noun
debt
Measure word · 笔
Easily confused
- 摘zhāisound-aliketo pick (flowers, fruit, etc.)
- 窄zhǎisound-alikenarrow (physically)
Examples
- 债。Tā qiàn le yínháng yí dà bǐ zhài.He owes the bank a large debt.
- 债。Tā nǔlì gōngzuò shì wèile huán qīng zhài.She works hard in order to pay off her debt.
- 债。Zhè bǐ zhài yǐjīng tuō le sān nián le.This debt has been overdue for three years.
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