How do you use "owe" in a sentence?

I still owe my brother fifty pounds from last month. She owes her success to years of hard work. Thanks for your help - I owe you one!

owe

Q: What does "owe" mean?

To be in debt to someone; to have an obligation To owe means to be in debt to someone, to have an obligation to pay or repay something. Beyond money, you can owe thanks, respect, or your success to someone or something. The phrase 'I owe you one' means you're grateful and will return the favour.

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★☆☆ Moderate Neutral

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Significado: To be in debt to someone; to have an obligation

欠，欠债；应该给予，归功于

deber, adeudar; tener una obligación

借りがある、負っている；恩義がある

빚지다, ~을 갚아야 하다; 은혜를 입다

To owe means to be in debt to someone, to have an obligation to pay or repay something. Beyond money, you can owe thanks, respect, or your success to someone or something. The phrase 'I owe you one' means you're grateful and will return the favour.

Owe的意思是欠某人债务，有偿还义务。除了金钱，你还可以欠某人感谢、尊重，或者把你的成功归功于某人或某事。短语'I owe you one'意思是你很感激，将来会回报对方。

Owe significa estar en deuda con alguien, tener la obligación de pagar o devolver algo. Más allá del dinero, puedes deber agradecimiento, respeto, o atribuir tu éxito a alguien o algo. La frase 'I owe you one' significa que estás agradecido y devolverás el favor.

Oweは誰かに借りがある、何かを払うか返す義務があるという意味です。お金以外にも、感謝や敬意を負ったり、成功を誰かや何かのおかげにすることができます。'I owe you one'というフレーズは、感謝していて、お返しをするという意味です。

빚지다(owe)는 누군가에게 빚이 있다, 무언가를 갚아야 할 의무가 있다는 뜻입니다. 돈 외에도 감사, 존경, 또는 성공을 누군가나 무언가에 돌릴 수 있습니다. 'I owe you one'은 감사하며 나중에 보답하겠다는 뜻입니다.

Ejemplos

I still owe my brother fifty pounds from last month.
我还欠我哥哥上个月的五十英镑。
Todavía le debo a mi hermano cincuenta libras del mes pasado.
まだ兄に先月の50ポンドを借りている。
나는 아직 형에게 지난달 빌린 50파운드를 갚지 못했습니다.
She owes her success to years of hard work.
她的成功归功于多年的努力工作。
Ella debe su éxito a años de trabajo duro.
彼女は何年もの努力のおかげで成功した。
그녀는 수년간의 노력 덕분에 성공했습니다.
Thanks for your help - I owe you one!
谢谢你的帮助——我欠你一个人情！
Gracias por tu ayuda - ¡te debo una!
手伝ってくれてありがとう — 借りができたね！
도와줘서 고마워 — 신세 졌어!

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: general

Tono: neutral

Origen e historia

From Old English 'agan' meaning 'to have, own, possess', from Proto-Germanic 'aiganan'. The original sense was 'to own'; the debt sense ('to be obligated to pay') developed in Middle English. Related to 'own' and 'ought'.

Contexto cultural

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Historia y curiosidades

The expression 'I owe you one' creates an informal social debt that builds trust and reciprocity. In some cultures, this concept is formalised - the Japanese concept of 'giri' involves a complex system of social obligations and debts that must be repaid, often with interest.

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