When you owe someone something, like money, you need to give it back. That's what 偿还 (cháng huán) means. It’s like saying "to pay back" or "to return."
For example, if you borrow money from a friend, you will 偿还 the money to them. Or if you need to pay back a loan, you use 偿还. It's a useful word for talking about giving things back that you've taken or borrowed.
§ Don't Confuse 偿还 with Simply 'Paying'
Many learners mistakenly use 偿还 (chánghuán) for any act of payment, especially when it's a simple transaction. While 偿还 means 'to repay' or 'to return' something, it specifically implies an obligation or a debt that needs to be settled. It's not for paying your bill at a restaurant or buying groceries.
- DEFINITION
- 偿还 (chánghuán) implies a duty to pay back, often something borrowed or owed. Think 'reimburse' or 'settle a debt.'
For example, you wouldn't say 偿还饭钱 (chánghuán fànqián) to mean 'pay the meal bill.' You would simply say 付饭钱 (fù fànqián) or 买单 (mǎidān). 偿还 is reserved for more formal situations involving debts, loans, or obligations.
我需要偿还银行贷款。 (Wǒ xūyào chánghuán yínháng dàikuǎn.)
I need to repay the bank loan.
他答应会偿还我的钱。 (Tā dāyìng huì chánghuán wǒ de qián.)
He promised he would return my money (that he owes me).
§ Overusing 偿还 in Casual Contexts
Because 偿还 carries a more formal and serious tone, using it in very casual situations can sound unnatural or overly dramatic. For instance, if you borrow a pen from a friend, you wouldn't typically say 你什么时候能偿还我的笔？ (Nǐ shénme shíhou néng chánghuán wǒ de bǐ?) meaning 'When can you repay my pen?'
Instead, you would use a simpler verb like 还 (huán) which means 'to return' in a general sense.
请你明天把书还给我。 (Qǐng nǐ míngtiān bǎ shū huán gěi wǒ.)
Please return the book to me tomorrow.
§ Not Understanding the Scope of 偿还
While 偿还 is most commonly associated with money or financial debts, it can also be used for non-monetary obligations or 'debts' of gratitude or kindness. However, this usage is more metaphorical and less common for beginners.
Incorrectly applying 偿还 to situations where there is no sense of a debt or obligation, even a metaphorical one, is a common error. For example, you wouldn't use 偿还 for 'returning a favor' if it's a simple exchange of help without a strong sense of a lingering debt.
我将尽力偿还你的恩情。 (Wǒ jiāng jìnlì chánghuán nǐ de ēnjíng.)
I will do my best to repay your kindness/favor (as a debt of gratitude).
Here, '恩情' (ēnjíng) implies a significant kindness that creates an obligation to repay. It's not just a casual favor. Be mindful of the emotional weight and context when using 偿还 in non-monetary situations.
Wusstest du?
The character 偿 (cháng) can also mean 'to realize' or 'to fulfill' when used in other contexts, like 偿愿 (chángyuàn) meaning 'to fulfill a wish'.
Beispiele nach Niveau
我必须尽快偿还这笔贷款。
I must repay this loan as soon as possible.
他承诺会在年底前偿还所有债务。
He promised to repay all debts before the end of the year.
公司正在努力偿还拖欠的工资。
The company is working hard to repay the overdue wages.
即使很困难，我们也应该偿还人情。
Even if it's difficult, we should repay favors.
他用自己的积蓄偿还了父母的医疗费。
He used his savings to repay his parents' medical expenses.
政府计划在十年内偿还国债。
The government plans to repay the national debt within ten years.
这位商人终于偿还了所有的商业贷款。
The businessman finally repaid all business loans.
我们应该偿还社会对我们的培养和支持。
We should repay society for its cultivation and support.
Wortherkunft
Composed of two characters: 偿 (cháng) and 还 (huán).
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: 偿 (cháng) originally meant to pay back or compensate. 还 (huán) originally meant to return or give back.
Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic branch, Mandarin subgroup.Kultureller Kontext
In Chinese culture, the concept of repayment and returning is deeply ingrained, especially regarding debts, favors, and kindness. There's a strong emphasis on maintaining harmonious relationships by ensuring that what is owed, whether tangible or intangible, is eventually settled. This can be seen in common idioms like 滴水之恩，当涌泉相报 (dī shuǐ zhī ēn, dāng yǒng quán xiāng bào) which means 'a small favor should be repaid with a gushing spring', highlighting the importance of reciprocating generosity.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 Fragen偿还 (chánghuán) is a more formal and general term for 'to repay' or 'to return' something, often used for debts, loans, or obligations. It can apply to money, but also to favors or even abstract concepts like 'repaying kindness'. 还钱 (huánqián) specifically means 'to return money' and is more common in everyday conversation for simple monetary transactions.
No, you wouldn't typically use 偿还 for returning a library book. For that, you would use 还书 (huánshū), which literally means 'to return a book'. 偿还 implies a debt or an obligation that needs to be settled.
Not always. While it's very commonly used for financial debts, 偿还 can also be used for repaying favors, kindness, or even fulfilling an obligation. For example, 偿还人情 (chánghuán rénqíng) means 'to repay a favor'.
Some common phrases include: 偿还债务 (chánghuán zhàiwù) - to repay a debt; 偿还贷款 (chánghuán dàikuǎn) - to repay a loan; 偿还恩情 (chánghuán ēnqíng) - to repay a kindness; 偿还本金 (chánghuán běnjīn) - to repay the principal (of a loan).
偿还 is considered a more formal term. In casual conversation, especially when talking about small amounts of money, you'd more likely hear 还钱 (huánqián).
It's less common, but yes, it can. For example, you might hear it in the context of 'repaying' something lost or taken, but it still carries that sense of an obligation being fulfilled. For simple 'returning' of an object, you'd typically use 還 (huán) or 退还 (tuìhuán).
You would say: 我需要偿还我的贷款。 (Wǒ xūyào chánghuán wǒ de dàikuǎn.)
Yes, it can definitely carry an emotional component, especially when used for things like 'repaying kindness' (偿还恩情) or 'atoning for sins' (偿还罪孽). In these contexts, it implies not just a transaction but also a moral or ethical obligation.
Think of 偿 (cháng) as 'to compensate' or 'to pay back', and 还 (huán) as 'to return'. Together, they form the idea of 'returning compensation' or 'paying back what is owed'. Often it's related to a longer-term repayment or a significant obligation.
No, you would not use 偿还 for 'returning a call'. For that, you'd typically say 回电话 (huí diànhuà), which means 'to return a phone call'.
Teste dich selbst 30 Fragen
Write a sentence about repaying a small loan to a friend. Make sure to use '偿还'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我明天会偿还我向朋友借的钱。
Imagine you borrowed a book from the library. Write a sentence saying you need to return it soon, using '偿还'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我需要尽快偿还从图书馆借来的书。
Write a short sentence about repaying a debt. Use '偿还'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他正在努力偿还他的债务。
小明为什么想尽快偿还他哥哥的钱？
Read this passage:
小明向他哥哥借了一些钱买新玩具。现在他有钱了，所以他想尽快偿还给他哥哥。他觉得这样做是很重要的。
小明为什么想尽快偿还他哥哥的钱？
文章中明确提到“他觉得这样做是很重要的”。
文章中明确提到“他觉得这样做是很重要的”。
丽丽计划如何偿还朋友的人情？
Read this passage:
丽丽欠了朋友一顿饭。她计划下周请朋友吃饭来偿还这份人情。她认为朋友帮了她很多。
丽丽计划如何偿还朋友的人情？
文章中写道“她计划下周请朋友吃饭来偿还这份人情”。
文章中写道“她计划下周请朋友吃饭来偿还这份人情”。
如果公司不按时偿还贷款会发生什么？
Read this passage:
公司向银行借了一大笔钱用于发展。他们需要按时偿还这笔贷款，否则会遇到麻烦。所以，每个月他们都会支付一部分。
如果公司不按时偿还贷款会发生什么？
文章中提到“他们需要按时偿还这笔贷款，否则会遇到麻烦”。
文章中提到“他们需要按时偿还这笔贷款，否则会遇到麻烦”。
Choose the correct sentence using 偿还:
偿还 (chánghuán) means 'to repay' a debt or loan. '借款' (jièkuǎn) means 'loan' or 'borrowed money'.
Which of the following can be 偿还?
偿还 (chánghuán) is typically used for financial obligations like debts (债务).
If you borrow money from someone, what do you need to do with it?
When you borrow money, you need to repay it, which is 偿还 (chánghuán).
你不能偿还一个承诺 (nǐ bù néng chánghuán yí ge chéngnuò - You cannot repay a promise).
偿还 (chánghuán) is used for things like debts or favors, not promises. For promises, you would 'fulfill' them (履行 lǚxíng).
偿还 可以用来指归还你从图书馆借的书 (chánghuán kěyǐ yòng lái zhǐ guīhuán nǐ cóng túshūguǎn jiè de shū - 偿还 can be used to refer to returning a book you borrowed from the library).
While 'return' is part of the definition, 偿还 (chánghuán) specifically implies repaying a debt or a favor. For returning a book, you'd use 归还 (guīhuán) or 还 (hái).
偿还 可以指报答别人的恩情 (chánghuán kěyǐ zhǐ bàodá biérén de ēnjíng - 偿还 can refer to repaying someone's kindness).
偿还 (chánghuán) can indeed be used to express repaying kindness or a favor, not just financial debts.
Imagine you borrowed money from a friend to start a small business. Write a short paragraph to them, promising to repay the loan and expressing your gratitude. Use 偿还.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
亲爱的朋友，谢谢你当时借钱给我开店。现在我的生意好起来了，我一定会尽快偿还你的借款。非常感谢你的帮助和信任。
You made a mistake at work that caused some financial loss for your company. Write a sentence explaining your regret and your intention to compensate for the loss. Use 偿还.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我对我的失误给公司造成的损失深感抱歉，我将尽力弥补并偿还造成的损失。
Write a sentence about a character in a story who needs to repay a debt or fulfill a promise.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
她知道自己必须偿还父亲欠下的巨额债务，才能让家人过上好日子。
根据这段文字，这个人是否偿还了钱？
Read this passage:
他承诺会尽快偿还那笔钱，但是几个月过去了，他还没有采取任何行动。朋友们开始怀疑他是否真的打算履行诺言。
根据这段文字，这个人是否偿还了钱？
文章中提到“几个月过去了，他还没有采取任何行动”，并且朋友们“开始怀疑他是否真的打算履行诺言”，这表明他还没有偿还。
文章中提到“几个月过去了，他还没有采取任何行动”，并且朋友们“开始怀疑他是否真的打算履行诺言”，这表明他还没有偿还。
公司如果不能按时偿还贷款会怎样？
Read this passage:
公司面临严重的财务困境，如果不能按时偿还银行贷款，他们将面临破产的风险。管理层正在寻找解决方案。
公司如果不能按时偿还贷款会怎样？
文章中明确指出“如果不能按时偿还银行贷款，他们将面临破产的风险”。
文章中明确指出“如果不能按时偿还银行贷款，他们将面临破产的风险”。
小王为什么努力工作？
Read this passage:
为了偿还助学贷款，小王毕业后努力工作，每天加班加点。他希望能早日摆脱经济负担，实现自己的梦想。
小王为什么努力工作？
文章中明确说明“为了偿还助学贷款，小王毕业后努力工作”。
文章中明确说明“为了偿还助学贷款，小王毕业后努力工作”。
The correct order is 'He must repay the debt as soon as possible.'
The correct order is 'I hope to repay all your kindness.'
The correct order is 'The company strives to repay the bank loan.'
This sentence structure follows a typical subject-verb-object pattern in Chinese. '他' (he) is the subject, '偿还' (repaid) is the verb, and '所有 的 债务' (all the debts) is the object.
'希望' (hope) is followed by the action '能够 偿还 恩情' (be able to repay kindness).
'公司' (company) is the subject, '正在 努力' (is making an effort) describes the ongoing action, and '偿还 银行贷款' (to repay the bank loan) is the goal.
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
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