"in debt" 是介词短语,最常见的意思是“欠债;处于负债状态”(表示财务上的欠款状态);
引申义可表示“欠人情;受惠于人”(非财务的“人情债”)。
"in debt" 通常需要和系动词(如 be、get、stay 等)搭配使用,或作后置定语修饰名词。以下是常见结构和场景:
基本结构:be in debt(处于负债状态)
例:He’s been in debt since he bought that expensive car.(自从买了那辆豪车,他就一直负债。)
补充细节:
欠某人的钱:be in debt to sb. (for + 金额/事物)
例:She is in debt to her brother for $5,000.(她欠哥哥5000美元。)
强调负债程度:用 heavily/deeply 修饰(负债累累/深陷债务)
例:The small business is heavily in debt after the pandemic.(疫情后这家小公司负债累累。)
陷入债务:get into debt(从“无债”到“有债”的动作)
例:Don’t overspend—you’ll get into debt if you do.(别乱花钱,否则你会陷入债务。)
还清债务:out of debt(反义词)
例:They finally paid off their loans and are out of debt now.(他们终于还清贷款,现在无债一身轻。)
当表示“因得到帮助而欠人情”时,结构为 be in sb.’s debt,无需加金额。
例:I’m in your debt for helping me with the project.(你帮我做这个项目,我欠你个人情。)
例:She saved my cat—now I’m forever in her debt.(她救了我的猫,我永远欠她人情。)
修饰“负债的人/机构”,放在名词后:
例:People in debt often struggle with anxiety.(负债的人常受焦虑困扰。)
例:The company in debt is trying to find investors.(那家负债的公司正在找投资者。)
"in debt" 是状态描述,不是动作(动作需用 "borrow" 或 "owe",如 "I owe him $100." = "I’m in debt to him for $100.");
引申义的“欠人情”是口语中常见的用法,需结合语境判断(若没有财务相关内容,通常指人情)。
1、 财务:My friend got into debt after losing his job.(我朋友失业后陷入债务。)
2、 人情:Thanks for covering my lunch—I’m in your debt!(谢谢你帮我付午餐钱,我欠你个人情!)
3、 程度:The restaurant is deeply in debt and might close soon.(这家餐厅深陷债务,可能很快倒闭。)
通过以上场景,你可以灵活运用 "in debt" 描述财务或人情上的“亏欠状态”啦!