Translation guide
The English word "debt" covers financial obligations, moral debts, and feelings of gratitude or guilt. Japanese uses different words for these nuances, and some expressions are culturally specific.
Money owed to a person, bank, or institution.
The most common word for financial debt, especially personal loans or money borrowed.
彼は借金を返済した。
He repaid his debt.
借金がかさんでしまった。
My debts have piled up.
A more formal term for liabilities or debts, often used in business or accounting contexts.
会社の負債は増加している。
The company's debts are increasing.
Legal or contractual debt, often used in formal documents.
債務の履行を求める。
Demand fulfillment of the debt obligation.
A feeling of owing someone for a favor or kindness, or a sense of obligation.
Refers to a favor or kindness received, creating a sense of indebtedness. Often used in phrases like 恩返し (returning a favor).
彼には大きな恩がある。
I owe him a great debt of gratitude.
恩を仇で返すな。
Don't return evil for good. (lit. Don't repay a kindness with enmity.)
Literally "to have a borrowing," used figuratively to mean you owe someone a favor or are indebted to them.
彼に借りがあるから、頼みを断れない。
I owe him a debt, so I can't refuse his request.
Refers to a sense of duty or obligation, often in social relationships. 義理 implies a moral debt that must be repaid.
彼には義理があるので、出席しなければならない。
I have a social obligation to him, so I must attend.
Describing the condition of owing money.
The standard way to say "to have debts" or "to be in debt."
彼は多額の借金がある。
He has a large amount of debt.
Emphasizes the burden of carrying debt.
彼は多額の借金を抱えている。
He is saddled with a huge debt.
Debt owed by a government.
Specifically refers to government bonds or national debt.
日本の国債は巨額だ。
Japan's national debt is enormous.
A more colloquial way to say "national debt," literally "the country's debt."
国の借金が増え続けている。
The national debt keeps increasing.
借金 is the everyday word for personal debt. 負債 is formal and often used in business for liabilities. 債務 is a legal term for an obligation to pay. Use 借金 in most daily conversations.
While 借金 can be used metaphorically, it primarily means financial debt. For moral or emotional debts, use 恩 or 借りがある.