债务

• Pinyin: zhài wù
• Hanzi breakdown: 债 = 亻 + 责 (debt/owe); 务 = 夂 + 力 (affair/task)

Meaning

Debt; liability; obligation. Money or obligations owed to others.

Formal financial and legal term. Types: 国家债务 (national debt), 个人债务 (personal debt), 债务危机 (debt crisis). Related: 债务人 (debtor), 债权人 (creditor). Often discussed in economic and legal contexts.

Examples

1. 公司因经营不善积累了大量债务，面临破产危机。 Because of poor management, the company accumulated massive debts and now faces a bankruptcy crisis.
2. 他用了五年时间才还清所有债务，终于摆脱了经济压力。 It took him five years to pay off all his debts, and he finally escaped the financial pressure.
3. 政府正在采取措施控制日益膨胀的国家债务。 The government is taking measures to rein in the country’s rapidly expanding national debt.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, legal, economics

Tone: neutral/serious

Do Say

• 他背负着沉重的债务，生活压力非常大。(He carries a heavy debt burden and faces enormous pressure in life.)
• 企业重组后，大部分债务得到了妥善处理。(After corporate restructuring, most of the debt was properly handled.)

Don't Say

• 债务钱 — 债务 already means money owed; just say 债务 or 欠款

Origin & History

债 (debt) + 务 (affair/business)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal