债台高筑
zhài tái gāo zhù
to be up to one’s ears in debt
Character by character
债zhài
debt
debt
台tái
tower
tower
高gāo
high
high
筑zhù
build
build
Example
他炒股亏了钱，又到处借钱补窟窿，弄得债台高筑。
He lost money on shares and borrowed everywhere to plug the hole, until he was up to his ears in debt.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
Legend has it that King Nan of Zhou (周赧王), the dynasty’s last king, borrowed so heavily that he hid from his creditors on a tower, which people called the 逃债台, the “tower for escaping debt”. Said of people, firms and governments: 地方政府债台高筑.
Learn this in Lesson 70 · HSK 6: 楼市的转折 (The property market turns)
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