Chinese word

拖欠

Pronunciation

Pinyintuō qiàn

Meaning

  • verbbe behind on

Example

他一直拖欠房租，房东很生气。tā yì zhí tuō qiàn fáng zū fáng dōng hěn shēng qì

He has been behind on his rent, and the landlord is very angry.

Illustration for 拖欠 (be behind on)

More examples

公司长期拖欠工资，引起了员工的投诉。gōng sī cháng qī tuō qiàn gōng zī yín qǐ le yuán gōng de tóu sù

The company has been behind on wages for a long time, causing complaints from employees.

Core concept

A due payment stays open after its deadline, leaving an unpaid balance.

Common phrases

  • 拖欠工资tuō qiàn gōng zī

    be behind on wages

  • 拖欠房租tuō qiàn fáng zū

    be behind on rent

  • 拖欠货款tuō qiàn huò kuǎn

    be behind on payment for goods

Similar words

欠qiàn: Still owe money that is due to someone else.
逾期yú qī: Become overdue because a payment or submission misses its deadline.
违约wéi yuē: Violate a contract by not fulfilling an agreed payment or other promise.

Definition in Chinese

未按约定时间支付款项，导致应付款项未结清。wèi àn yuē dìng shí jiān zhī fù kuǎn xiàng dǎo zhì yìng fù kuǎn xiàng wèi jié qīng

Word origin

拖 (tuō, "delay") + 欠 (qiàn, "owe") combines the ideas of holding something back and leaving an obligation unpaid.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 还没付 (hái méi fù, "have not paid yet") is often more natural, while this formal term appears in billing notices and contract language.

Other meanings

  • arrearsnoun

Opposites

  • 按时支付àn shí zhī fùpay on timeverb
  • 及时还款jí shí huán kuǎnrepay promptlyverb

Related words

  • 拖欠者tuō qiàn zhěperson in arrearsnoun

Word lists with this word