负债累累 (fù zhài lěi lěi) — to be overwhelmed with debts; to be deeply in debt

Definition

A vivid four-character set phrase meaning 'crushingly deep in debt'. The reduplication 累累 emphasizes the sheer weight and accumulation of debts — stronger than plain 负债, which just states the fact of owing money.

verb
to be overwhelmed with debtsto be deeply in debt

Examples

  • 负债累累
    Zhè jiā gōng sī jīng yíng bú shàn, yǐ jīng fù zhài lěi lěi le.
    This company has mismanaged its business and is already deeply in debt.
  • 负债累累
    Tā yīn wèi chuàng yè shī bài ér fù zhài lěi lěi, bù dé bú mài fáng huán zhài.
    He fell heavily into debt because of a failed startup and had to sell his house to repay the loans.
  • 负债累累
    Yí gè fù zhài lěi lěi de zhèng fǔ hěn nán tuī dòng jīng jì gǎi gé.
    A government that is deeply in debt finds it very hard to push through economic reforms.

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