貸 — To lend, rent, or loan

Meaning

The kanji 貸 describes the act of lending something, renting out property, or providing a loan. Unlike its counterpart 借 (to borrow), this character focuses on the outward movement of an item or money from the owner to a temporary user. It is a staple of daily life, appearing in contexts from lending a pen to a classmate to signing complex real estate leases.

Visually, 貸 is a phono-semantic compound. The bottom radical 貝かい (shell) represents money or value, as shells were used as ancient currency. The top part 代だい means 'substitute' or 'exchange.' Together, they depict the act of providing value as a substitute for a set period. This provides a clear mental image of a loan: you are letting someone else use your resources while you retain ownership.

With 12 strokes, 貸 is taught in Grade 5 and is a key N4 vocabulary item. Many learners struggle with the difference between 'lending' (貸す) and 'borrowing' (借かりる). A good rule of thumb is that 貸 always implies you are the one giving the item away for a while.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The on'yomi is タイ (tai). You will mostly encounter this reading in formal, academic, or business compounds. While rarely used alone in speech, it is essential for reading news reports or legal contracts.

賃貸ちんたい (chintai) — Lease or rent. Look for this on signs (賃貸マンション) when apartment hunting in Japan.
貸借たいしゃく (taishaku) — Loan, or literally 'lending and borrowing' (debit and credit).
貸与たいよ (taiyo) — The formal act of lending, such as a company providing a laptop to an employee.

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The native reading is か.す (kasu). This is the standard verb for 'to lend' in everyday conversation. It follows Godan conjugation rules.

貸かす (kasu) — To lend or rent out.
貸かし出だし (kashidashi) — Lending or checking out. Libraries use this term for books.
貸かし付つける (kashitsukeru) — To lend money, typically in a professional banking context.

Common Words & Compounds

Learning these specific compounds will help you navigate Japanese services and business interactions:

Real Estate & Housing

貸家かしや (kashiya) — A house for rent.
賃貸ちんたいアパート (chintai apaato) — A rental apartment.
貸室かししつ (kashishitsu) — A room for rent, often used for offices or studios.
貸店舗かしてんぽ (kashitenpo) — Commercial shop space for lease.

Finance & Business

貸金かしきん (kashikin) — Loaned money or a debt.
貸借対照表たいしゃくたいしょうひょう (taishakutaishouhyou) — A balance sheet.
無利子貸付むりしかしつけ (murishi kashitsuke) — An interest-free loan.

Daily Services

貸かし切きり (kashikiri) — Reserved or chartered. You might see this at an Onsen (貸切風呂) for a private family bath.
又貸またがし (matagashi) — Sub-lending (lending an item you borrowed to someone else).
貸かし借かり (kashikari) — The general act of lending and borrowing items.

Example Sentences

消けしゴムを貸かしてください。

keshigomu wo kashite kudasai.

Please lend me an eraser.

この本ほんを友達ともだちに貸かしました。

kono hon wo tomodachi ni kashimashita.

I lent this book to my friend.

銀行ぎんこうはお金かねを貸かしてくれます。

ginkou wa okane wo kashite kuremasu.

The bank lends us money.

傘かさを貸かしてくれて、ありがとうございます。

kasa wo kashite kurete, arigatou gozaimasu.

Thank you for lending me your umbrella.

このアパートは賃貸ちんたい物件です。

kono apaato wa chintai bukken desu.

This apartment is a rental property.

バスを貸かし切きりにして、みんなで旅行りょこうに行いきます。

basu wo kashikiri ni shite, minna de ryokou ni ikimasu.

We are chartering a bus and going on a trip together.

図書館としょかんの本ほんは、まだ貸かし出だし中ちゅうです。

toshokan no hon wa, mada kashidashichuu desu.

The library book is still out on loan.

あなたに千円せんえんの貸かしがあります。

anata ni sen-en no kashi ga arimasu.

You owe me 1,000 yen (literally: I have a 1,000 yen 'loan' to you).

彼かれに恩おんを売うって、大おおきな貸かしを作つくった。

kare ni on wo utte, ookina kashi wo tsukutta.

I did him a favor and now he owes me big time.

Related Kanji

開 — Open, Unfold, Begin (Kanji N4)
集 — Gather, Collect, Assemble (Kanji N4)
質 — Quality, Nature, Substance (Kanji N4)
用 — Use, Task, Business (Kanji N4)
起 — Wake up, Rise, Happen (Kanji N4)
帰 — Return Home, Arrive At (Kanji N4)

Memory Tip

To remember 貸, look at its components: 代 (substitute) and 貝 (money/shells). If a friend is broke, you act as their substitute (代) source of money (貝) by lending it to them. Just remember: if the money (shell) is on the bottom, you are the one 'supporting' the other person by lending. In contrast, 借 (borrow) has a person (亻) on the left, as it takes a person to receive the item.