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.
Mini dialogue
欠作业
A
你交作业了吗？
Nǐ jiāo zuòyè le ma?
Did you hand in your homework?
B
还没有，我还欠一篇作文。
Hái méiyǒu, wǒ hái qiàn yī piān zuòwén.
Not yet, I still owe one essay.
欠钱
A
你记得吗？你欠我五块钱。
Nǐ jìde ma? Nǐ qiàn wǒ wǔ kuài qián.
Do you remember? You owe me five yuan.
B
哦，对不起，我明天还给你。
Ò, duìbuqǐ, wǒ míngtiān huán gěi nǐ.
Oh, sorry, I'll pay you back tomorrow.
Related words and contrasts
related
借
jiè
borrow
欠 means to owe, while 借 means to borrow. They are related in the context of debts.
opposite
还
huán
return; repay
还 means to return or repay, the opposite of owing.