'债权' (zhài quán) literally combines 债 (zhài), meaning 'debt' or 'loan', and 权 (quán), meaning 'right' or 'authority'. Together, it refers to the legal rights a creditor holds against a debtor — such as the right to demand repayment, claim interest, or enforce security. It is a formal, legal term used primarily in finance, law, and business contexts, not in everyday conversation.

This term appears frequently in contracts, court rulings, bankruptcy proceedings, and financial reports. Unlike colloquial expressions like '欠钱' (owing money), 债权 emphasizes the creditor’s enforceable entitlement under Chinese civil law. It contrasts with '债务' (zhàiwù), which denotes the debtor’s obligation. Understanding this distinction is essential for reading legal documents or discussing credit arrangements in China.