Definition

Verb: * To welch; to refuse to pay (a debt, a bet): The primary meaning is to intentionally avoid paying money that one owes, often through deceit or evasion. It implies a breach of trust or agreement. * To renege; to go back on one's word (especially regarding a payment): It can also mean to fail to fulfill a promise, particularly a financial one.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta quịt nợ và bỏ trốn. (He welched on the debt and ran away.)
  • Đừng tin hắn, hắn hay quịt tiền cá độ lắm. (Don't trust him; he often welshes on gambling bets.)
  • Họ đã thua cuộc nhưng lại tìm cách quịt. (They lost the bet but tried to find a way to get out of paying.)

Advanced Usage

• "quịt nợ": This is the most common collocation, meaning specifically "to refuse to pay a debt" or "to default on a debt."
  • Công ty đó bị tố cáo là quịt nợ lương nhân viên. (That company is accused of defaulting on employee salaries.)
• The word carries a strong negative connotation of dishonesty and untrustworthiness.

Variants and Related Words

• Quỵt: This is the more standard and commonly used spelling variant of "quịt." The meanings are identical.
  • Nó quỵt tiền ăn của cả nhóm. (He welshed on paying for the group's meal.)
• Trốn nợ (verb phrase): To evade/escape a debt. This is a close synonym but emphasizes the act of hiding or running away.
• Nuốt lời (verb phrase): To break a promise (literally "to swallow one's words"). This is broader and not exclusively financial.

Synonyms

• To default (on): To fail to pay a debt, especially a formal one like a loan.
• To renege (on): To go back on a promise, agreement, or bet.
• To dodge (a debt/payment): To avoid something, such as a payment, skillfully or deceitfully.
• To bilk: To cheat someone out of money, often by avoiding payment. (More formal/less common)

Related Phrases

• Ăn quỵt (verb phrase): This is a synonymous phrase meaning "to welsh" or "to bilk." It is very commonly used.
  • Khách hàng đó ăn quỵt một hóa đơn lớn. (That customer bilked us out of a large bill.)

Notes on Meaning

The word "quịt" is informal and carries a strong pejorative sense. It is used to describe behavior considered morally wrong and deceitful in a financial context. The core idea is the intentional avoidance of a due payment after an agreement or debt has been incurred.

verb

1. to welch; to refuse to pay
   • quịt nợ
     to refuse to pay a debt