qiàn

Traditional: 欠

#1125 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

to owe; to lack; to raise slightly

Word origin

A pictograph of a person with an open mouth exhaling, the original sense of yawning. It later took on the meanings of lacking and owing.

Origin
pictograph
Root
a person yawning with open mouth

Stroke order

Stroke order for 欠

Examples

bǎi

He owes me a hundred yuan.

I owe you a favour.

piānzhāng

This article still lacks polish.

He raised himself slightly.

You owe nobody anything.

欠 (qiàn) means to owe, to lack, or to raise slightly. The owing sense is the most common in daily speech.

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This word is part of lesson 23.