清偿 (qīngcháng) is a formal verb meaning 'to settle (a debt) in full' — that is, to pay back the entire amount owed, leaving no balance remaining. The first character 清 (qīng) means 'clear, pure, or complete', and the second 偿 (cháng) means 'to repay or compensate'. Together, they convey the idea of fully clearing a financial obligation. This term is commonly used in legal, banking, and business contexts, especially when referring to loans, mortgages, invoices, or contractual debts.

Unlike everyday verbs like 还 (huán) or 付 (fù), 清偿 carries a sense of finality and formality — it implies official completion of repayment, often documented or verified. It’s rarely used for small, casual debts among friends. You’ll see it in loan agreements, court rulings, corporate financial reports, and government notices about debt resolution. While it can be used transitively (e.g., 清偿贷款), it may also appear in passive or nominalized forms (e.g., 已清偿, 清偿义务).