借りる

• Reading: かりる
• Romaji: kariru
• Kanji breakdown: 借 (shaku/ka) — to borrow, to rent
• Pronunciation: /ka.ɾi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To borrow; to rent. Used when temporarily receiving something from someone else.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb. Used for borrowing items, money, and also for renting rooms, cars, and equipment. から or に marks who you borrow from, を marks the item. The counterpart is 貸す (kasu, to lend). Unlike English, Japanese distinguishes clearly between borrowing and lending.

Examples

1. 図書館で本を借りました。 I borrowed a book from the library.
2. 友達から傘を借りてもいいですか。 May I borrow an umbrella from my friend?
3. 駅の近くでアパートを借りています。 I'm renting an apartment near the station.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, library, housing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 借 combines 亻 (person radical) and 昔 (old times/formerly), suggesting a temporary arrangement where something is received for a period and then returned.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal