債務

• Reading: さいむ
• Romaji: saimu
• Kanji breakdown: 債 (sai) — debt, bond; 務 (mu) — duty, service, task
• Pronunciation: /sa.i.mɯ/

Meaning

Debt; liabilities; obligation. A legal or contractual duty to pay or perform for another party.

A noun used in legal, financial, and business contexts. Key collocations: 債務者 (debtor), 債務不履行 (default/breach of obligation), 債務超過 (insolvency, liabilities exceeding assets), 債務整理 (debt restructuring). The counterpart of 債権 (saiken, credit/claim) — 債務 is the obligation side.

Examples

1. 会社の債務が資産を上回り、債務超過の状態に陥った。 The company's liabilities exceeded its assets, falling into a state of insolvency.
2. 個人の債務整理について弁護士に相談した。 I consulted a lawyer about personal debt restructuring.
3. 債務不履行になると信用情報に傷がつく。 Defaulting on a debt will damage your credit history.

Usage Guide

Context: law, finance, business

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 債 (sai, debt/bond) + 務 (mu, duty/service). Literally 'debt duty' — the obligation to repay or fulfil a commitment.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional