Japanese word

借り

Pronunciation

Romajikari

Meaning

  • noundebt

Example

その借りは必ず返します。so no ka ri wa kanara zu kae shi ma su

I will repay that debt without fail.

Illustration for 借り (debt)

More examples

友人の助けで、借りを作らずに済みました。yū jin no tasu ke de ka ri o tsuku ra zu ni su mi ma shi ta

Thanks to my friend's help, I avoided incurring a debt.

Core concept

The core sense is something received from another person that remains to be returned or repaid.

Common phrases

  • 借りがあるka ri ga a ru

    owe a debt

  • 借りを返すka ri o kae su

    repay a debt

  • 借りを作るka ri o tsuku ru

    incur a debt

Similar words

借金shakkin: Money received through borrowing that must be repaid.
債務saimu: A legal or financial obligation to repay money or fulfill a duty.
負債fusai: Unpaid money or other obligations owed to a person or organization.
恩義ongi: A lasting obligation created by receiving help or kindness.

Definition in Japanese

借りた物や金銭、受けた恩など、相手に返すべきもの。ka ri ta mono ya kin sen u ke ta on na do ai te ni kae su be ki mo no

Word origin

The native Japanese noun 借り (kari) is the nominalized continuative form of 借りる (kariru, "to borrow"), retaining the idea of something that must be returned.

Usage tips

  • In 借りを返す (kari o kaesu), the literal idea of repaying a debt extends naturally to returning a favor, so the noun also appears in social situations.

Other meanings

  • borrowingnoun
  • obligationnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word