The New Dictionary.
Search dictionary
Chinese/Dictionary entry

债台高筑

zhài tái gāo zhùdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
lit. build a high desk of debt (idiom) / heavily in debt
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-4d0441f4324bf956. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

債臺高築 债台高筑 [zhai4 tai2 gao1 zhu4] /lit. build a high desk of debt (idiom); heavily in debt/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 債臺高築

  • 债
  • 台
    tāi

    used in place names

    tái

    (classical) you (in letters) / desk / table / counter / platform / stage / terrace / stand / support / station / broadcasting station / classifier for vehicles or machines / typhoon

    Tái

    Taiwan (abbr.) / surname Tai

  • 高
    gāo

    high / tall / above average / loud / your (honorific)

    Gāo

    surname Gao

  • 筑
    zhù

    five-string lute / Taiwan pr. [zhú] / to build / to construct / to ram / to hit

    Zhù

    short name for Guiyang 貴陽|贵阳[Guì yáng]

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.