贳 (shì) - To borrow & to rent

贳Tone 4

shì ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

上姝

贳 · shì

To borrow;

to rent;

to buy on credit;

to pardon;

to forgive.

To borrowto rentto buy on credit

Usage highlights

Buy on creditRent a carPardon a crimeRent equipmentBorrow moneyCredit purchase

Synonyms

  • 借— to borrow
  • 贷— to loan
  • 租— to rent
  • 赦— to pardon

Antonyms

  • 还— to repay
  • 买— to buy (with cash)
  • 罚— to punish

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He bought the car on credit (贳车).
  • The store allows installment purchases (贳账).
  • The emperor granted a pardon (贳罪).
  • They rented equipment for the project (贳器械).

Collocations

  • Buy on credit(贳账)
  • Rent a car(贳车)
  • Pardon a crime(贳罪)
  • Rent equipment(贳器械)
  • Borrow money(贳钱)
  • Credit purchase(贳购)

Idioms

  • To pardon faults and employ talents(贳过录功)
  • To forgive minor offenses(贳小过)
  • To rent a boat to cross the river(贳舟渡河)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, '贳' represented an early form of credit economy, allowing transactions without immediate payment.
  • The character was also used in legal contexts, referring to imperial pardons or forgiveness of crimes.
  • The credit system represented by '贳' reflected social trust relationships in traditional Chinese commerce.

FAQ