Chinese word

借用

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiè yòng

Meaning

  • verbborrow

Example

我可以借用你的笔吗？wǒ ké yǐ jiè yòng nǐ de bǐ ma

May I borrow your pen?

Illustration for 借用 (borrow)

More examples

我向同事借用了一本参考书。wǒ xiàng tóng shì jiè yòng le yì běn cān kǎo shū

I borrowed a reference book from my colleague.

Core concept

A temporary handoff that provides access for a purpose without transferring lasting ownership.

Common phrases

  • 借用一下jiè yòng yí xià

    borrow for a moment

  • 借用书籍jiè yòng shū jí

    borrow books

  • 借用账号jiè yòng zhàng hào

    borrow an account

Similar words

借jiè: Borrow an item from someone for a while, usually expecting to return it.
使用shǐ yòng: Use a tool, object, or method for a particular purpose.
租zū: Pay to use an object or place for a set period.

Definition in Chinese

临时从别人处取得并使用某物或某种说法，强调为使用目的而取用，常包含归还或停止使用的期待。lín shí cóng bié rén chù qǔ dé bìng shǐ yòng mǒu wù huò móu zhǒng shuō fǎ qiáng diào wèi shǐ yòng mù dì ér qǔ yòng cháng bāo hán guī huán huò tíng zhí shǐ yòng de qī dài

Word origin

The compound 借用 (jièyòng, "borrow") joins 借 (jiè, "borrow") with 用 (yòng, "use"), narrowing the idea toward borrowing specifically in order to use something.

Usage tips

  • For a casual request to use someone else's pen, everyday Chinese often uses a shorter expression, whereas this compound has a more formal tone.

Opposites

Related words

  • 借用者jiè yòng zhěborrowernoun
  • 借用期限jiè yòng qī xiànborrowing periodnoun

Word lists with this word