Meanings of 欠
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About 欠
Podcast: 欠
Podcast: 欠
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AI Study Notes for 欠
欠 (qiàn) vs 缺 (quē) — use 欠 for debts or obligations, while 缺 refers to a lack of physical things or qualities.
Be cautious with the tone; it's pronounced with a falling tone (qiàn). Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding characters. In informal contexts, it can be used to express a casual lack, while in formal settings, it may refer to more serious debts.
As an HSK 5 word, 欠 connects with other financial vocabulary like 借 (jiè, to borrow) and 还 (huán, to return). Focus on its different meanings and practice using it in sentences related to finances and daily life.
Learners often confuse 欠 with other characters that have similar pronunciations, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 欠钱 (qiàn qián) when you mean to say 借钱 (jiè qián, to borrow money) can lead to misunderstandings.
Pronunciation of 欠
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Etymology of 欠
Pictograph of a person opening their mouth to yawn.
A man 人 yawning ⺈
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 欠
Pictograph of a person opening their mouth to yawn.
- 1The giveawayA man 人 yawning ⺈
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 欠? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 欠?
Decomposition of 欠
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 欠?
How to say deficient in Chinese
“deficient” in Chinese is欠
The character 欠 (qiàn) primarily means 'to owe' or 'to lack'. It can refer to owing money or a debt, as well as lacking something essential. Additionally, it can denote the act of yawning, which metaphorically relates to a deficiency in energy or oxygen.
When to use 欠
Be cautious with the tone; it's pronounced with a falling tone (qiàn). Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding characters. In informal contexts, it can be used to express a casual lack, while in formal settings, it may refer to more serious debts.
欠 or something close to it
欠 (qiàn) vs 缺 (quē) — use 欠 for debts or obligations, while 缺 refers to a lack of physical things or qualities.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 欠 with other characters that have similar pronunciations, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 欠钱 (qiàn qián) when you mean to say 借钱 (jiè qián, to borrow money) can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 欠
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Practice writing 欠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 欠
欠 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
我破产了，莉薇，而且我____了几百万美元的债。
I'm broke, Livy, and I owe a couple of million dollars.
Common Confusions with 欠
Similar in shape but different in pronunciation and meaning.
Similar pronunciation and structure, but different meanings.
欠 refers to owing or lacking something, while 缺 specifically means lacking or missing something.
缺少资金 (lacking funds)
欠 refers to owing or lacking something, while 缺 specifically means lacking or missing something.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "deficient"?
Example Sentences for 欠 (10)
Word Family of 欠
Compound Meaning
What does 次 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 欠
Common phrases that include 欠 (qiàn) are '欠债' (qiànzhài), meaning 'to owe a debt,' and '欠缺' (qiànquē), which means 'to be lacking in.' These phrases are useful in conversations about finances or personal needs.
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