Meaning
算账 literally means 'to calculate accounts' and has both literal and figurative meanings. In its literal sense, it refers to balancing books or settling financial accounts. Figuratively, it means to settle a score with someone or seek revenge for past wrongs.
Usage
In business contexts, 算账 refers to bookkeeping and accounting work. In everyday speech, it often carries a threatening or negative connotation when talking about interpersonal conflicts, meaning to settle old scores or get revenge. The phrase 跟某人算账 (gēn mǒu rén suàn zhàng) means 'to settle accounts with someone' and usually implies confrontation.
Examples
- 01这个月底我们要算账了。.We need to settle the accounts at the end of this month.
- 02你等着，我迟早要跟你算账！, !You just wait, sooner or later I'll settle the score with you!
Characters
Common collocations
- 跟...算账...to settle accounts with...
- 算总账to settle the overall score
- 秋后算账to settle accounts after autumn (idiom: to settle scores later)
- 找人算账to find someone to settle accounts with
Antonyms
Origin
Composed of 算 (calculate) and 账 (accounts/ledger). The term originated from commercial contexts where merchants would calculate accounts, but extended metaphorically to mean settling disputes or grievances.