Readings: シャク (Onyomi), か.りる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: borrow, lend
The character combines the radical イ (person) and 昔 (old/formerly). The person radical indicates an action by a person, and 昔 suggests something from the past or something that was left behind, implying temporary use or borrowing.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 借 has 10 strokes. It begins with the 亻 (person radical) on the left, followed by the components of 昔 on the right. Pay attention to the order of the horizontal and vertical strokes.
Kanji Details
| Radical | イ (にんべん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 4 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シャク (shaku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- かりる (kariru)
Common Words Using 借
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 借金 | しゃっきん | debt, loan |
| 借家 | しゃっか | rented house |
| 借地 | しゃくち | leased land |
| 貸借 | たいしゃく | loan, debit and credit |
| 賃借 | ちんしゃく | lease, rent |
| 借用 | しゃくよう | borrowing, loan |
| 借款 | しゃっかん | loan, credit (often international) |
| 借室 | しゃくしつ | rented room |
| 借方 | かりかた | debit side (in accounting) |
| 借力 | しゃくりょく | borrowed power/strength |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 借りる | かりる | to borrow, to rent (from someone) |
| 借り手 | かりて | borrower |
| 借り物 | かりもの | borrowed article, something borrowed |
| 借り主 | かりぬし | borrower, tenant |
| 借り出し | かりだし | borrowing (money), withdrawal |
| 借り入れ | かりいれ | borrowing, loan |
| 借り上げる | かりあげる | to rent, lease (from someone) |
| 借り換え | かりかえ | refinancing, re-borrowing |
| 借り倒れ | かりだおれ | unrecoverable loan, bad debt |
| 借りぐらし | かりぐらし | living in a rented house |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 本を借りました。
Kana: ほんをかりました。
Romaji: Hon o karimashita.
English: I borrowed a book.
Japanese: お金を借りてもいいですか。
Kana: おかねをかりてもいいですか。
Romaji: Okane o karitemo ii desu ka?
English: Can I borrow money?
Japanese: 図書館でDVDを借りました。
Kana: としょかんでDVDをかりました。
Romaji: Toshokan de DVD o karimashita.
English: I borrowed a DVD at the library.
Japanese: 彼は友達から傘を借りた。
Kana: かれはともだちからかさをかりた。
Romaji: Kare wa tomodachi kara kasa o karita.
English: He borrowed an umbrella from his friend.
Japanese: この自転車は誰に借りましたか。
Kana: このじてんしゃはだれにかりましたか。
Romaji: Kono jitensha wa dare ni karimashita ka?
English: Who did you borrow this bicycle from?
Japanese: 借金がたくさんあります。
Kana: しゃっきんがたくさんあります。
Romaji: Shakkin ga takusan arimasu.
English: I have a lot of debt.
Japanese: 彼は古い借家に住んでいる。
Kana: かれはふるいしゃっかにすんでいる。
Romaji: Kare wa furui shakka ni sunde iru.
English: He lives in an old rented house.
Japanese: この土地は借地です。
Kana: このとちはしゃくちです。
Romaji: Kono tochi wa shakuchi desu.
English: This land is leased land.
Japanese: 貸借対照表を確認してください。
Kana: たいしゃくたいしょうひょうをかくにんしてください。
Romaji: Taishaku taishouhyou o kakunin shite kudasai.
English: Please check the balance sheet (debit/credit statement).
Japanese: 彼女は銀行からお金を借り入れた。
Kana: かのじょはぎんこうからおかねをかりいれた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa ginkou kara okane o kariireta.
English: She borrowed money from the bank.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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