偿还
Traditional: 償還
cháng huán HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他必须偿还银行的贷款。
Tā bìxū chánghuán yínháng de dàikuǎn.
He must repay the bank loan.
公司按时偿还了债务。
Gōngsī ànshí chánghuánle zhàiwù.
The company paid back its debts on time.
她承诺会偿还这笔钱。
Tā chéngnuò huì chánghuán zhè bǐ qián.
She promised to repay this money.
他必须偿还债务。
Tā bìxū chánghuán zhàiwù.
He must repay the debt.
我会偿还你的钱。
Wǒ huì chánghuán nǐ de qián.
I will repay your money.

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: 偿 (cháng) sounds like 'pay' and relates to compensation, while 还 (huán) means 'to return.' Think: 'return a payment' to remember it involves repaying something owed.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is formal and commonly used in written contexts, such as legal, financial, or official documents. It is also used in spoken language in serious discussions about debts, loans, or obligations. Common contexts include banking, contracts, and personal finance.

📖 Grammar Points

偿还 is a transitive verb often followed by objects like 贷款 (loan) or 债务 (debt). It can be used in patterns such as '按期偿还' (repay on schedule) or '偿还给 + person' (repay to someone). It may appear in passive structures like '被偿还' (be repaid).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, repaying debts is strongly tied to concepts of trust and integrity (诚信). Failing to repay is often viewed as dishonorable, reflecting the importance of fulfilling financial and social obligations.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 归还 (guīhuán, to return something physical) and 付款 (fùkuǎn, to pay for goods/services), 偿还 specifically implies repaying a debt or loan, often with a sense of obligation. It differs from 赔偿 (péicháng, to compensate for damages) which involves making amends for losses.

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