Meanings of 貸
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About 貸
Podcast: 貸
Podcast: 貸
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AI Study Notes for 貸
借 (jiè) vs 貸 (dài) — use 貸 when emphasizing the act of lending, while 借 focuses on the act of borrowing.
Learners often confuse 貸 with 借 (jiè), which also means 'to borrow' but from the perspective of the borrower. The character 貸 is more formal and typically used in written contexts, especially in finance. Be careful with tones; saying 'dai' with the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.
While 貸 is not included in HSK levels, it connects well with words about finance and transactions often found in HSK vocabulary. Focus on its use in practical contexts like banking and loans, which are essential for intermediate learners.
A common mistake is using 貸 when you mean 借, leading to confusion. For example, saying '我貸书给他' (Wǒ dài shū gěi tā) incorrectly suggests you are lending the book instead of borrowing it. Correctly, it should be '我借书给他' (Wǒ jiè shū gěi tā).
Pronunciation of 貸
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Etymology of 貸
Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 代 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貸.
money
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 貸
Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 代 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貸.
- 1The meaning half貝 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half代 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymoney
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 貸? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 貸
Identify the Components
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How to say to borrow; to lend; to pardon in Chinese
“to borrow; to lend; to pardon” in Chinese is貸
The character 貸 (dài) primarily means 'to borrow' or 'to lend.' It is commonly used in financial contexts, such as borrowing money or lending items. The nuance includes the idea of temporarily using something that belongs to someone else, with the expectation of returning it.
When to use 貸
Learners often confuse 貸 with 借 (jiè), which also means 'to borrow' but from the perspective of the borrower. The character 貸 is more formal and typically used in written contexts, especially in finance. Be careful with tones; saying 'dai' with the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.
貸 or something close to it
借 (jiè) vs 貸 (dài) — use 貸 when emphasizing the act of lending, while 借 focuses on the act of borrowing.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 貸 when you mean 借, leading to confusion. For example, saying '我貸书给他' (Wǒ dài shū gěi tā) incorrectly suggests you are lending the book instead of borrowing it. Correctly, it should be '我借书给他' (Wǒ jiè shū gěi tā).
Write 貸
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Practice writing 貸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 貸
Compound Meaning
What does 贷款 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 貸
You can say '我可以借你的书吗?' (Wǒ kěyǐ jiè nǐ de shū ma?), meaning 'Can I borrow your book?'. In this case, you can interchangeably use 貸.
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