算账 suànzhàng to balance the books
(accounting) to balance the books; to do the accounts; (figuratively) to settle an account; to get one's revenge
How to remember 算账: 算 calculate + 账 accounts = to balance the books.
Characters
How it is used
- Literally to do the accounts / settle the books - 月底算账 (yuèdǐ suànzhàng) to balance the books at month-end.
- Very common figurative sense 'to settle a score / get even': 找他算账 (zhǎo tā suànzhàng) to go settle accounts with him, i.e. make him pay.
- Colloquial; the revenge sense is often the intended one in disputes.