借 jiè — to borrow (from someone)

Meanings

1. 1

   to borrow (from someone)

   One verb covers both directions of the loan, and the sentence decides which. 跟他借 or 向他借 is borrowing *from* him; 借给他 is lending *to* him. English needs two words where Chinese needs a preposition.

   verb
2. 2

   to lend (to someone)

   verb

Character breakdown

• 借

  jiè (fourth tone, falling)

  to borrow; to lend; to make use of, to take (an opportunity)

  10 strokes⿰亻昔Radical 人

Example sentences

• 我可以借你的笔记本吗？/我可以借你的筆記本嗎？Wǒ (third tone, dipping) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) jiè (fourth tone, falling) nǐ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) bǐjìběn (third tone, dipping) ma? (neutral tone)···

  May I borrow your notebook?

• 他借给我五十块钱。/他借給我五十塊錢。Tā (first tone, high and level) jiègěi (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) wǔshí (third tone, dipping) kuài (fourth tone, falling) qián. (second tone, rising)···

  He lent me fifty yuan.

Common mistakes

• Not quite我借他一本书。

  Correct我跟他借了一本书。

  Without a preposition the sentence is read as lending — you gave him a book. To borrow *from* him, mark the source with 跟 or 向; to lend *to* him, add 给: 我借给他一本书.

Similar words