貸す

• Reading: かす
• Romaji: kasu
• Kanji breakdown: 貸 (tai/ka) — to lend, to loan
• Pronunciation: /ka.sɯ/

Meaning

To lend; to loan; to rent out. Used when giving something temporarily to someone.

A Group 1 (godan) verb with a す stem. Used for lending objects, money, or spaces to others. に marks the person being lent to, を marks the item. The counterpart is 借りる (kariru, to borrow). Commonly used in everyday situations involving sharing.

Examples

1. ペンを貸してくれませんか。 Could you lend me a pen?
2. 友達に本を貸しました。 I lent a book to my friend.
3. 弟にお金を貸すのは心配です。 I'm worried about lending money to my younger brother.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, school, friends

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 貸 combines 代 (substitute/generation) and 貝 (shell/money), reflecting the idea of temporarily substituting one's possessions — lending them with the expectation of return.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal