How common it is
欠 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Guest access
Guests can browse all words. Sign in or create an account to save progress and unlock more practice.
Pronunciation focus
Say qiàn slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
欠用于表示缺少或负债。
qiàn yòng yú biǎoshì qiāo suǒ huò shí bɑi.
Owe is used to indicate a lack or debt.
Context note
他欠了我一百元，我欠了他五十元。
tā qiàn le wǒ yī bǎi yuán, wǒ qiàn le tā wǔ shí yuán.
He owes me one hundred yuan, I owe him fifty yuan.
5 examples
他欠了我一百元，我欠了他五十元。
tā qiàn le wǒ yì bǎi yuán， wǒ qiàn le tā wǔ shí yuán。
He owes me one hundred yuan, I owe him fifty yuan.
我欠了他一笔钱，他没有催我还。
wǒ qiàn le tā yì bǐ qián， tā méi yǒu cuī wǒ hái。
I owe him some money, he didn't urge me to pay it back.
公司欠了供应商一百万元，供应商要求付款。
gōng sī qiàn le gōng yìng shāng yì bǎi wàn yuán， gōng yìng shāng yāo qiú fù kuǎn。
The company owes a supplier one million yuan, the supplier demands payment.
他欠了我一百元，但我没有催他还。
tā qiàn le wǒ yì bǎi yuán， dàn wǒ méi yǒu cuī tā hái。
He owes me one hundred yuan, but I didn't urge him to pay it back.
我欠了他一笔钱，但他没有催我还。
wǒ qiàn le tā yì bǐ qián， dàn tā méi yǒu cuī wǒ hái。
I owe him some money, but he didn't urge me to pay it back.
5 mini stories
他欠了我一百元，我欠了他五十元。我们决定一起还清债务。
tā qiàn le wǒ yì bǎi yuán， wǒ qiàn le tā wǔ shí yuán。 wǒ men jué dìng yì qǐ huán qīng zhài wù。
He owes me one hundred yuan, I owe him fifty yuan. We decided to pay off the debt together.
公司欠了供应商一百万元，供应商要求付款。公司决定尽快支付。
gōng sī qiàn le gōng yìng shāng yì bǎi wàn yuán， gōng yìng shāng yāo qiú fù kuǎn。 gōng sī jué dìng jǐn kuài zhī fù。
The company owes a supplier one million yuan, the supplier demands payment. The company decided to pay as soon as possible.
他欠了我一百元，但我没有催他还。因为他最近很忙。
tā qiàn le wǒ yì bǎi yuán， dàn wǒ méi yǒu cuī tā hái。 yīn wèi tā zuì jìn hěn máng。
He owes me one hundred yuan, but I didn't urge him to pay it back. Because he has been very busy recently.
我欠了他一笔钱，但他没有催我还。因为他最近很忙。
wǒ qiàn le tā yì bǐ qián， dàn tā méi yǒu cuī wǒ hái。 yīn wèi tā zuì jìn hěn máng。
I owe him some money, but he didn't urge me to pay it back. Because he has been very busy recently.
公司欠了供应商一百万元，供应商要求付款。公司决定尽快支付。
gōng sī qiàn le gōng yìng shāng yì bǎi wàn yuán， gōng yìng shāng yāo qiú fù kuǎn。 gōng sī jué dìng jǐn kuài zhī fù。
The company owes a supplier one million yuan, the supplier demands payment. The company decided to pay as soon as possible.