Definition
负债累累 is a four-character set phrase meaning 'to be heavily in debt' or 'to be saddled with debts'. The word 累累 (lěi lěi) is a reduplicated form meaning 'many / piled up', so the phrase literally means 'debts piled up high'. You can use it to describe companies, individuals, or even countries that have accumulated so much debt that repayment becomes extremely difficult. It is typically used as a predicate (not as a noun) and often appears with 的 to modify a noun.
v.p.
to be overwhelmed with debtsto be deeply in debt
Examples
- ，负债累累。Zhè jiā gōngsī jīngyíng bú shàn, yǐjīng fù zhài lěi lěi le.This company has mismanaged its business and is already deeply in debt.
- 负债累累，。Tā yīnwèi chuàngyè shībài ér fù zhài lěi lěi, bùdébú mài fáng huán zhài.He fell heavily into debt because of a failed startup and had to sell his house to repay the loans.
- 负债累累。Yí gè fù zhài lěi lěi de zhèngfǔ hěn nán tuīdòng jīngjì gǎigé.A government that is deeply in debt finds it very hard to push through economic reforms.
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