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.
Imagine a person with an empty wallet (欠) who is yawning, representing both the lack of money and the lack of energy. The character itself resembles a person with a gap (欠) in their finances, reinforcing the idea of deficiency.
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.
In Chinese culture, owing money can carry significant social implications, often leading to a sense of obligation to repay. The concept of debt is closely tied to trust and relationships in both personal and business contexts.
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
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 欠?
Decomposition of 欠
Identify the Components
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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)
Cultural Notes for 欠
In Chinese culture, owing money can carry significant social implications, often leading to a sense of obligation to repay. The concept of debt is closely tied to trust and relationships in both personal and business contexts.
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.