owe
/əʊ/verb
with obj.
1- have an obligation to pay or repay (something, especially money) in return for something received欠：
they have denied they owe money to the company
他们否认欠公司钱
with two objs you owe me £19. 50 for the electricity bill.你欠我19.50英镑的电费。
1.1
- owe something, especially money, to (someone)欠…东西（尤指钱）：
I owe you for the taxi.
我欠你出租车费。
1.2
- be under a moral obligation to give someone (gratitude, respect, etc.)应该给予（感激、尊敬等）：
I owe it to him to explain what's happened
我应该向他解释所发生的事
with two objs I owe you an apology.我应该向你道歉。
1.3
owe something to
have something because of (someone or something)应把…归功于：champagne houses owe their success to brand image.
香槟酒店的成功要归功于品牌形象。
1.4
- be indebted to someone or something for (something)因…而感激：
I owe my life to you.
我应该感谢你救了我的命。
短语
owe someone a grudge
- 见GRUDGE.
owe it to oneself (to do something)
- need to do something to protect one's own interests为了自己有必要做某事：
you owe it to yourself to take care of your body.
为了你自己你必须爱护你的身体。
owe someone one
- informal feel indebted to someone〈非正式〉觉得应感激某人：
thanks, I owe you one for this.
谢了, 为这个我欠你的情。
someone/thing owes one a living
- used to express disapproval of someone who expects to receive financial support or other benefits without doing any work用于对指望不劳而获的人表示不满 …应该白白养活某人：
they think the world owes them a living.
他们认为这个世界应该白白养活他们。
词源
Old English āgan 'own， have it as an obligation'， of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit īs 'possess， own'. Compare with OUGHT1 .