还账

You use it as a verb-object phrase. You can say 我要还账 (I need to repay debt). You can also put words in the middle. For example, 还清了账 means you have fully paid it off. It feels very grounded and practical. It is less formal than banking terms but more solid than slang.

Use it when talking about credit cards. Use it when you owe a friend for dinner. It is perfect for monthly chores like paying bills. If you are talking to a shopkeeper about a tab, this is your phrase. It works well in texts and face-to-face chats.

Do not use it for 'favors.' If someone helped you move, you do not 还账. You 还人情 (repay a favor). Also, avoid it in high-level corporate finance meetings. There, you would use 偿还债务. 还账 sounds a bit too much like a person-to-person transaction for a boardroom.

In old China, people often bought things on credit at local shops. These were recorded in a physical book called a 账本. At the end of the month or year, you had to 'clear the book.' This is why 还账 feels so personal. It is about maintaining trust in your community.

You will often hear 还清 (pay off completely). Another one is 欠账 (to owe a debt). If you are talking about a specific person, you say 还他的账. If you are struggling, you might say 还不起账 (can't afford to pay).