贷 (dài) - to lend & to borrow
贷 · dài
to lend;
to borrow;
a loan;
to pardon;
to forgive.
to lendto borrowa loan
Usage highlights
loanborrow moneylenderborrowercredit loanhousing loan
Usage & contexts
Examples
- The bank approved my loan application (贷款申请).
- He borrowed money from a friend (向朋友贷款).
- The company provides student loans (学生贷款).
- The government issued a loan for infrastructure (基础设施贷款).
Collocations
- loan(贷款)
- borrow money(借贷)
- lender(贷方)
- borrower(借方)
- credit loan(信贷)
- housing loan(房贷)
Idioms
- To be strict with oneself and lenient with others(严以律己，宽以待人)
- To borrow from the east to pay the west(东贷西还)
- Irreconcilable differences(不可饶贷)
Cultural background
FAQ- In traditional Chinese culture, borrowing and lending were governed by strong ethical codes, emphasizing trust and repayment.
- The character combines '代' (generation/substitute) with '贝' (shell/money), suggesting the transfer of monetary value over time.
- Modern usage is heavily tied to financial systems, banking, and credit markets.