Chinese Grammar Reference logo

    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "owe" with 欠 (qiàn)

    Existence & Possession
    Numbers & Quantity

    Structure

    Subject + 欠 + (Indirect Object) + Amount

    Explanation

    欠 (qiàn) is a verb meaning "to owe." It describes being indebted to someone, whether financially or in terms of favors. A common pattern is 欠了…一笔钱, meaning "to owe someone a sum of money."

    Examples

    • 他欠了银行一大笔贷款还没还。

      Tā qiàn le yínháng yī dà bǐ dàikuǎn hái méi huán.

      He owes the bank a large loan that he still hasn't paid back.

    • 我欠你一个人情,以后一定报答你。

      Wǒ qiàn nǐ yī gè rénqíng, yǐhòu yīdìng bàodá nǐ.

      I owe you a favor and will definitely repay you in the future.

    • 她欠了朋友两千块钱,下个月还。

      Tā qiàn le péngyou liǎng qiān kuài qián, xià gè yuè huán.

      She owes a friend two thousand yuan and will pay it back next month.

    Expressing "owe" with 欠 (qiàn) | Chinese Grammar