Ambiguity in XにYがある


> 彼女に一万円の借金があります。  
>  I have a debt to her of 10,000 yen. (given translation)

This (slightly awkward) English translation means that I owe the women 10,000
yen. Is this sentence ambiguous? Without further context I would interpret
this as meaning that the woman owes 10,000 yen to someone else.

Would changing に to には affect the meaning?




The sentence is ambiguous but almost theoretically (to me).

I would understand the sentence as (a) 'I owe 10000 yen to the woman', rather
than (b) 'The woman owes 10000 yen to someone'.

> 彼女 **には** 一万円の借金があります

sounds more like (b) than (a).

> 彼女 **は** 一万円の借金があります

means only (b).




The sentence is ambiguous but almost theoretically (to me).

I would understand the sentence as (a) 'I owe 10000 yen to the woman', rather
than (b) 'The woman owes 10000 yen to someone'.

> 彼女 **には** 一万円の借金があります

sounds more like (b) than (a).

> 彼女 **は** 一万円の借金があります

means only (b).

