debt 有两个核心义：① 「债务，欠款」：be in debt（负债：be deeply in debt = 深陷债务）；national debt（国家债务）；debt relief（债务减免）；② 「恩情，感激之情（比喻）」：owe a debt of gratitude（欠一份感激：I owe you a debt of gratitude = 我对你充满感激）；in sb.'s debt（欠某人情：I am deeply in your debt = 我非常感激你）。注意：debt 中的 b 不发音（/det/）。辨析：debt（总量债务：national debt = 国债；long-term financial obligation）vs. loan（贷款：take out a loan = 申请贷款；具体的借贷行为）vs. deficit（赤字：budget deficit = 预算赤字；收入少于支出的差额）。
释义
1
n.债务，欠款
Rising household debt levels are a growing concern for economists, as they signal that consumers are borrowing beyond their means to sustain their standard of living.
The young professor acknowledged the enormous intellectual debt she owed to her mentor, whose guidance had shaped her entire academic career.
这位年轻教授承认她欠导师巨大的知识恩情，导师的指导塑造了她整个学术生涯。
语感
be in debt（负债）；national / public debt（国家/公共债务）；debt relief（债务减免）；owe a debt of gratitude（欠一份感激）；a debt crisis（债务危机）
债务，欠款（be in debt = 负债）恩情（owe a debt of gratitude = 欠感激之情）
高频搭配：be in debt（负债：be deeply in debt = 深陷债务；run into debt = 陷入债务）；national / public / sovereign debt（国家/公共/主权债务）；debt relief / cancellation（债务减免/取消）；a debt crisis（债务危机）；repay / pay off a debt（偿还债务）；run up debt（欠下债务：run up credit card debt = 欠下信用卡债务）；owe a debt of gratitude（欠感激：I owe you a debt of gratitude = 我非常感激你）；in sb.'s debt（欠某人情：I'm in your debt = 我欠你的情）；辨析：debt（债务总量：be in debt）vs. loan（贷款，具体借贷：take out a loan = 申请贷款；repay a loan = 还贷）vs. deficit（赤字，支出超过收入的差额：budget deficit = 预算赤字；trade deficit = 贸易逆差）。
陷阱
⚠️in debt（负债）vs. in the red（处于亏损）——不完全等同
The company has been operating in the red for three consecutive years, but its long-term debt remains manageable thanks to recent refinancing.
✗
in the red = in debt（完全等同）
✓
in the red（处于亏损，支出超过收入：the account is in the red = 账户处于透支）；in debt（负债，欠别人的钱：be in debt to the bank = 欠银行债务）；两者相关但不等同：公司可以 in debt（有借款）但 not in the red（仍在盈利）；也可以 in the red（当期亏损）but with low debt（债务水平低）；此句用两个词描述不同方面是正确的
该公司已连续三年亏损，但由于近期的再融资，其长期债务仍然可控。（in the red = 亏损；debt = 负债总量，两者不同）
⚠️debt（/det/）——b 不发音
✗
The country's growing debt burden has prompted international creditors to question whether it will be able to meet future repayment obligations.
debtdebt（债务/欠情：be in debt = 负债；owe a debt of gratitude = 欠感激之情；较具体，指金融或比喻的「欠」）obligationobligation（义务，责任：a financial obligation = 财务义务；fulfill an obligation = 履行义务；比 debt 更广，可指法律、道德、契约上的责任；不一定是借来的钱）
Many developing nations are struggling under a crippling debt burden that consumes a disproportionate share of government revenues.
许多发展中国家正在沉重的债务负担下挣扎，债务消耗了政府收入的不成比例的份额。
Governments have a moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable members of society from the worst effects of economic downturns.
政府有道德义务保护社会最脆弱的成员免受经济衰退最严重影响。
写作加分
✨ 加分词
替换：money owedloanborrowing
经济话题政策分析话题社会问题议论文
普通
Many countries borrow too much money and have trouble paying it back.
许多国家借了太多钱，很难还清。
加分 ✨
Unsustainable levels of sovereign debt constrain governments' ability to invest in public services and respond to economic shocks, creating a cycle of fiscal vulnerability that disproportionately affects the poor.
debt = 「欠的东西」（b 不发音：/det/）；in debt = 在「欠」的状态 = 负债；national debt = 国家欠的钱；debt of gratitude = 「欠的感激」= 感恩；doubt（怀疑）也有 b 不发音，同类
考考你
Q1对错判断
判断下面句子里的用法是否正确：
The charity was founded by a businessman who felt a profound debt of gratitude to the community that had supported him during the most difficult period of his life.
该慈善机构由一位商人创立，他对在他人生最艰难时期支持过他的社区感到深深的感激之情。
a debt of gratitude（感激之情，比喻义）用法正确；a profound debt of gratitude = 深深的感激；that had supported him = 关系从句，语法正确
Q2近义选词
选择最恰当的词填空：
The organisation has a legal ___ to disclose its financial accounts to the public on an annual basis.