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债 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
债
zhài
debt
HSK 7, n, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #6108, Very Hard
债
zhài
debt, loan, liability
HSK 7, n, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #6108, Very Hard
zhài(zhai4)zhai T4
1debt
2debt, loan, liability
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March 24, 2026
债(債)zhài(zhai4)
The character 债 (zhài) refers to debt or an obligation to repay money borrowed. It is commonly used in financial contexts, such as discussing loans or liabilities, and can also refer to moral or emotional debts in a broader sense.
Strokes10Radical亻Frequency#6108DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of debt carries significant weight, often linked to family obligations and social harmony. Being in debt can affect one's reputation and relationships within the community.
Memory tip
Think of 债 as a 'zha' with a 'debt' on its back. The left part, as '亻' (person), represents the borrower, while the right part, '债', suggests the weight of the obligation, making it easier to remember that it means debt.
Meanings of 债
zhài(zhai4)
1debt
2debt, loan, liability
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 债 means.
About 债
债Simplified
債Traditional
10Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6108Frequency Rank
笔Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 债
Podcast: 债
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AI study notes for 债
Quick Contrast
债 (debt) vs 欠 (owe) — use 债 when referring specifically to the concept of debt as an obligation, while 欠 emphasizes the action of owing.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 债 with 贷 (dài), which refers to lending. Remember that 债 emphasizes the obligation of the borrower. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but is particularly prevalent in financial discussions.
HSK Study Tips
While 债 is not in the HSK list, it connects with terms like 贷款 (dàikuǎn, loan) and 债务 (zhàiwù, debt obligation), which are important for understanding financial conversations. Focus on recognizing these related terms and their usage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 债 with 账 (zhàng, account), leading to incorrect phrases like 债单 (zhài dān, debt bill) instead of 账单 (zhàng dān, bill). Always use 债 in contexts related to borrowing and repayment.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 债
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The character 债 (zhài) refers to debt or an obligation to repay money borrowed. It is commonly used in financial contexts, such as discussing loans or liabilities, and can also refer to moral or emotional debts in a broader sense.
When to use 债
A common mistake is to confuse 债 with 贷 (dài), which refers to lending. Remember that 债 emphasizes the obligation of the borrower. It is used in both formal and informal settings, but is particularly prevalent in financial discussions.
债 or something close to it
债 (debt) vs 欠 (owe) — use 债 when referring specifically to the concept of debt as an obligation, while 欠 emphasizes the action of owing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 债 with 账 (zhàng, account), leading to incorrect phrases like 债单 (zhài dān, debt bill) instead of 账单 (zhàng dān, bill). Always use 债 in contexts related to borrowing and repayment.
Write 债
债
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Practice writing 债 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 债
债 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我破产了，莉薇，而且我欠了几百万美元的____。
I'm broke, Livy, and I owe a couple of million dollars.
Common confusions with 债
债vs账
zhàng
Similar structure but different meaning and usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “debt”?
or
Example sentences for 债 (10)
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1
我破产了，莉薇，而且我欠了几百万美元的债。
wǒ pòchǎn le， lì wēi， érqiě wǒ qiàn le jǐ bǎi wàn měiyuán de zhài。
I'm broke, Livy, and I owe a couple of million dollars.
