zhàiwù: 债务 - Debt, Liability, Obligation

• Keywords: 债务, zhaiwu, Chinese for debt, Chinese for liability, debt in China, Chinese obligation, personal debt, national debt, mortgage in Chinese, 还债, 欠钱, HSK 5
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for debt, 债务 (zhàiwù). This comprehensive guide goes beyond a simple translation, exploring how 债务 is used in modern China for everything from personal mortgages and credit cards to national economic policy. Understand the cultural significance of debt, the critical difference between the formal term 债务 and the casual phrase `欠钱 (qiàn qián)`, and master its usage with practical, real-world example sentences.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhàiwù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: 5
• Concise Definition: A financial, legal, or moral obligation to repay something, typically money; a debt or liability.
• In a Nutshell: 债务 (zhàiwù) is the formal and official term for “debt.” Think of it as the word you would see on a bank loan agreement, in a legal document, or in a news report about the economy. It's more abstract and serious than just saying “I owe money.” It encompasses the entire concept and state of being indebted, carrying a weight of formal responsibility.

• 债 (zhài): This character tells a story. The left side, 亻, is the “person” radical. The right side, 责 (zé), means “responsibility” or “to demand.” Combined, 债 literally means a “person's responsibility,” a perfect representation of a debt.
• 务 (wù): This character means “affair,” “matter,” or “business,” as seen in words like 服务 (fúwù - service) and 任务 (rènwù - task). It adds a layer of formality and scope.

When combined, 债务 (zhàiwù) means a “debt affair” or an “obligation matter.” This fusion creates a term that signifies a formal, recognized state of liability, distinguishing it from a casual IOU between friends.

Traditionally, carrying 债务 in Chinese culture was viewed with a significant degree of social shame. The ideal was to be self-reliant and free from obligation. There is a strong cultural custom of trying to 还清债务 (huánqīng zhàiwù)—pay off all debts—before the Lunar New Year, to start the new year with a clean slate. This contrasts with Western consumer cultures where debt is often normalized and even encouraged as a tool for immediate gratification (e.g., credit card spending, “buy now, pay later” schemes). While China has rapidly modernized, with mortgages (房贷 fángdài) and consumer credit becoming commonplace, a remnant of this traditional caution persists. The concept of debt is often approached with more gravity. A crucial distinction is between 债务 (zhàiwù) and 人情债 (rénqíngzhài).

• 债务 is a financial or legal liability. It is transactional and is settled by paying money.
• 人情债 (rénqíngzhài) is a “debt of human feeling” or a social obligation. It's created when someone does you a significant favor. This debt cannot be repaid with money but requires loyalty, reciprocity, and future help. It is a cornerstone of `关系 (guānxi)` and is often considered more burdensome than a financial debt.

债务 is a common term in formal contexts, covering personal finance, business, and economics.

It's used when discussing serious financial commitments like mortgages, car loans, and significant credit card debt. While you might tell a friend `我欠你钱 (Wǒ qiàn nǐ qián)`, you would discuss your `信用卡债务 (xìnyòngkǎ zhàiwù)` with a financial advisor.

In a corporate or legal setting, 债务 refers to liabilities on a balance sheet, contractual obligations, or debts subject to legal proceedings. You'll frequently encounter terms like `债务人 (zhàiwùrén)` for “debtor” and `债权人 (zhàiquánrén)` for “creditor.”

In news and academic discussions, 债务 is used to talk about corporate debt, local government debt, and national debt (`国家债务 guójiā zhàiwù`), which are major topics in the modern Chinese economy.

• Example 1:
• 他最大的财务问题是他的信用卡债务。
• Pinyin: Tā zuìdà de cáiwù wèntí shì tā de xìnyòngkǎ zhàiwù.
• English: His biggest financial problem is his credit card debt.
• Analysis: This is a formal and objective statement about a person's financial situation. 债务 is the perfect word here, as it refers to the official liability owed to the bank.
• Example 2:
• 为了买这套房子，我们背上了三十年的债务。
• Pinyin: Wèile mǎi zhè tào fángzi, wǒmen bēishàng le sānshí nián de zhàiwù.
• English: In order to buy this apartment, we took on thirty years of debt.
• Analysis: The verb `背上 (bēishàng)` literally means “to carry on one's back.” It vividly portrays debt as a long-term burden, a very common and evocative collocation with 债务.
• Example 3:
• 这家公司因债务过多而宣布破产。
• Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī yīn zhàiwù guòduō ér xuānbù pòchǎn.
• English: This company declared bankruptcy due to excessive debt.
• Analysis: This is a typical sentence from a business news report. 债务 here clearly refers to corporate liabilities.
• Example 4:
• 政府正在努力解决地方政府的债务问题。
• Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài nǔlì jiějué dìfāng zhèngfǔ de zhàiwù wèntí.
• English: The government is working hard to resolve the local government debt issue.
• Analysis: This shows the use of 债务 on a macroeconomic scale. It's formal and appropriate for discussing government policy.
• Example 5:
• 摆脱债务是他现在唯一的目​​标。
• Pinyin: Bǎituō zhàiwù shì tā xiànzài wéiyī de mùbiāo.
• English: Getting rid of debt is his only goal right now.
• Analysis: `摆脱 (bǎituō)` means “to break free from” or “to shake off.” This again frames 债务 as something negative that one is trapped by.
• Example 6:
• 在签订合同之前，请仔细阅读所有关于债务的条款。
• Pinyin: Zài qiāndìng hétóng zhīqián, qǐng zǐxì yuèdú suǒyǒu guānyú zhàiwù de tiáokuǎn.
• English: Before signing the contract, please carefully read all clauses concerning liabilities.
• Analysis: This is a classic example of 债务 used in a legal or contractual context, where it translates best as “liabilities.”
• Example 7:
• 他觉得对父母有一种债务感，因为他们为他付出了太多。
• Pinyin: Tā juédé duì fùmǔ yǒu yī zhǒng zhàiwù gǎn, yīnwèi tāmen wèi tā fùchū le tài duō.
• English: He feels a sense of indebtedness towards his parents because they sacrificed so much for him.
• Analysis: Here, 债务 is used more metaphorically to mean a deep, almost quantifiable sense of obligation, though a `人情债 (rénqíngzhài)` might also be used in such contexts. The addition of `感 (gǎn)` turns it into a “feeling of debt.”
• Example 8:
• 偿还债务是每个公民的法律义务。
• Pinyin: Chánghuán zhàiwù shì měi ge gōngmín de fǎlǜ yìwù.
• English: Repaying debts is the legal obligation of every citizen.
• Analysis: `偿还 (chánghuán)` is a formal verb for “to repay.” This sentence has a very formal, legalistic tone, where 债务 is the only appropriate choice.
• Example 9:
• 他们的债务与资产的比率非常高。
• Pinyin: Tāmen de zhàiwù yǔ zīchǎn de bǐlǜ fēicháng gāo.
• English: Their debt-to-asset ratio is very high.
• Analysis: A standard financial phrase, showing how 债务 functions as a technical term in finance and accounting.
• Example 10:
• 我没有任何债务，感觉很轻松。
• Pinyin: Wǒ méiyǒu rènhé zhàiwù, gǎnjué hěn qīngsōng.
• English: I don't have any debt, and I feel very relaxed.
• Analysis: This simple, personal statement uses 债务 to refer to the general concept of being in debt. It emphasizes the state of being “debt-free.”

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 债务 (zhàiwù) with 欠钱 (qiàn qián).

• 债务 (zhàiwù) is a noun. It is the *concept* or *state* of debt/liability.
  • Correct: 我有很高的债务。(Wǒ yǒu hěn gāo de zhàiwù.) - I have high debt.
  • Incorrect: 我债务你一百块。 (Wǒ zhàiwù nǐ yìbǎi kuài.)
• 欠 (qiàn) is a verb meaning “to owe.” 欠钱 (qiàn qián) is a verb-object phrase meaning “to owe money.” It describes the *action* or *fact* of owing.
  • Correct: 我欠你一百块。(Wǒ qiàn nǐ yìbǎi kuài.) - I owe you 100 yuan.
  • Incorrect: 我有很高的欠钱。(Wǒ yǒu hěn gāo de qiàn qián.)

In short: Use 债务 to talk about “debt” as a formal noun