When the Warring States Period (zhàn guó 战国) began, it was already nearing the end of the Chou dynasty (zhōu cháo 周朝).

Although Chou King Nan was the ruler, he had very little real power. The Seven Great States into which China was divided were all very powerful; especially the kingdom of Ch'in, which planned to swallow up the other six and become ruler of all China.

One day, the king of Ch'u heard that the kingdom of Wei had defeated Ch'in in battle. Seeing this as their big chance, he went and suggested to King Nan that everyone cooperate to destroy Ch'in together. Knowing about Ch'in's plann to invade the Chou court, King Nan readily agreed. Realizing that the court did not have enough money to pay for the horses and weapons his troops would need, King Nan borrowed money from the rich people of his kingdom, promising to pay them back with interest after they had won the war.

As it turned out, however, Ch'u and Yan were the only two kingdoms to send out troops. The war was never fought, but the money
had been completely spent. The creditors gathered at the palace gates every day to demand their money, and King Nan was forced to hide up atop his high platform.
Thus, when a person, like King Nan, owes so much money that it is impossible for him to pay it all back, we can say that "The Debt Platform Is Built Up High."

战国时代已经是周朝的后期，周赧王虽然是天子，却没有实权。当时称为战国七雄的齐、楚、燕、韩、赵、魏、秦七国，都很有势力。尤其是强大的秦国，老是想吞并其它六国，将来自己当天子。

有一天，楚孝烈王听说魏国信陵君打败了秦国，就向周赧王说，现在是最好的时机，大家联合起来消灭秦国吧！周赧王早就知道秦国想侵犯周朝的野心，就一口答应派兵支援。军队需要马匹和武器，但是当时军费不够，只好向国内有钱的人借。并且说明等打胜仗回来，再加上利息还给大家。

谁知道，他们出兵以后，只有楚、燕两国兵马来会合，其它诸侯并没派兵。仗没打，钱却花光了。债主天天在宫门口吵着钱。赧王只好躲到一个高台上去。

债台高筑 (zhài tái gāo zhù)
【翻译】The Debt Platform is Built Up High .
【释义】形容欠债很多。
【例句】这家企业由于经营不善，早就已经债台高筑了。
【近义词】家徒四壁、民劣财尽
【反义词】绰有余裕、金玉满堂