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March 24, 2026
贷(貸)dài(dai4)
The character 贷 (dài) primarily means 'to lend' or 'to borrow,' often in the context of financial transactions involving loans with interest. It can also imply leniency or forgiveness, as in making excuses or pardoning someone. This duality makes it useful in both monetary discussions and interpersonal situations.
Strokes9Radical贝Frequency#14561DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lending and borrowing are often seen as social obligations, where family and friends may lend money without formal contracts. This reflects a strong emphasis on relationships and trust, which is a common theme in Chinese social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a friend who needs to borrow money, and you are lending it to them. Picture the character 贷 as a bridge where 'dai' flows from one person to another. The left side '贷' resembles a hand reaching out to lend, while the right side ‘借’ suggests the act of borrowing. Visualize this scenario to remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 贷
dài(dai4)
1to lend on interest
2to borrow
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 贷
贷Simplified
貸Traditional
9Strokes
贝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#14561Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 贷
Podcast: 贷
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AI Study Notes for 贷
Quick Contrast
借 (jiè) - use this entry when referring specifically to borrowing, while 贷 (dài) emphasizes the lending aspect.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a friend who needs to borrow money, and you are lending it to them. Picture the character 贷 as a bridge where 'dai' flows from one person to another. The left side '贷' resembles a hand reaching out to lend, while the right side ‘借’ suggests the act of borrowing. Visualize this scenario to remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 贷 (dài) with 借 (jiè), which specifically means 'to borrow.' Remember that 贷 involves a lending aspect, often with an interest component. In formal contexts, 贷 is commonly used in financial discussions, while in informal settings, it can refer to personal loans among friends.
HSK Study Tips
Although 贷 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to financial vocabulary that may appear in HSK 4 and above. Focus on differentiating it from similar words like 借 (jiè) and 学 (xué) to enhance your financial and conversational skills. Understanding context will aid in proper usage.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lending and borrowing are often seen as social obligations, where family and friends may lend money without formal contracts. This reflects a strong emphasis on relationships and trust, which is a common theme in Chinese social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners might mistakenly use 贷 when they mean 借, leading to confusion about who is lending and who is borrowing. For example, saying '我想贷钱' (I want to lend money) instead of '我想借钱' (I want to borrow money) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 贷
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Grammar Patterns of 贷
贷 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
老实讲，托马斯，你____款的问题开始让我担心了。
Frankly, Thomas, this question of your loan is beginning to worry me.
Example Sentences for 贷 (10)
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1
老实讲，托马斯，你贷款的问题开始让我担心了。
lǎo shí jiǎng， ， tuō mǎ， sī ， nǐ dài kuǎn de wèn tí kāi shǐ ràng wǒ dān。
Frankly, Thomas, this question of your loan is beginning to worry me.
2
无论你如何粉饰，银行就是为了放贷而生的。
wú lùn nǐ rú hé fěn shì， ， yín háng jiù shì wéi le fàng dài ér shēng。
However you dress it up, a bank only exists to lend money.
3
该项目的主要投资商是法国的国民信贷银行。
gāi xiàng mù de zhǔ yào tóu zī shāng shì fǎ guó de guó mín xìn dài yín háng。
The main investor in the project is the French bank Credit National.
If homeowners can't keep up the payments, they face foreclosure.
9
抵押贷款利率最近的回升可能会扼杀房地产的复苏。
dǐ yā dài kuǎn lì shuài zuì jìn de huí shēng kě néng huì è shā fáng dì chǎn de fù sū。
The recent rebound in mortgage rates could snuff out the housing recovery.
10
我们能提供数额从500英镑到7,500英镑的无担保贷款。
wǒ mén néng tí gōng shù é cóng500 500 yīng bàng7,500 dào 7,500 yīng bàng de wú dān bǎo。
We can arrange unsecured loans for any amount from £500 to £7,
Cultural Notes for 贷
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, lending and borrowing are often seen as social obligations, where family and friends may lend money without formal contracts. This reflects a strong emphasis on relationships and trust, which is a common theme in Chinese social interactions.
Word Family of 贷
Words Containing This Character15
贷款dàikuǎna loan貸款
贷dàia loan貸
信贷xìndàicredit信貸
高利贷loan shark高利貸
借贷to borrow or lend money借貸
放贷to provide loans放貸
还贷to repay a loan還貸
责无旁贷to be duty bound責無旁貸
严惩不贷to punish severely (idiom)嚴懲不貸
贷款人the lender貸款人
农贷(government) loan to agriculture農貸
贷方creditor貸方
贷学金student loan貸學金
贷款率interest rate貸款率
乞贷to beg for a loan乞貸
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 贷款 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 贷
贷 means 'to lend,' while 借 means 'to borrow.' When you use 贷, you are the one giving money, and when you use 借, you are the one receiving it.
Yes, 贷 can also mean to pardon or forgive in interpersonal contexts, such as making excuses for someone.
While 贷 can be used informally among friends, it is often found in more formal discussions related to finance.
