Definitions

dài (verb,noun) to lend; to borrow; loan
dài (verb) to forgive; to pardon; to be lenient

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "贷", with its traditional form "貸", is composed of the semantic component "貝", representing shell money or valuables, and the phonetic component "代", which also contributes the meaning of substitution or acting on behalf of another. This structure directly conveys the concept of temporarily transferring valuables with an obligation for return, forming its core meaning of to lend or to borrow. Over centuries, its application broadened from specific material loans to encompass more abstract financial concepts such as credit, debt, and liability, as seen in terms like loan (貸款) and credit (信貸). The simplified form "贷" maintains these core components while presenting a more streamlined graphical structure.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我需要款。

Wǒ xūyào dàikuǎn.

I need a loan.

银行提供款服务。

Yínháng tígōng dàikuǎn fúwù.

The bank provides loan services.

记录很重要。

Xìndài jìlù hěn zhòngyào.

Credit records are very important.

他申请了车

Tā shēnqǐng le chēdài.

He applied for a car loan.

如果你想买房,需要房

Rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng mǎi fáng, xūyào fángdài.

If you want to buy a house, you need a mortgage.

企业经常依靠款发展。

Qǐyè jīngcháng yīkào dàikuǎn fāzhǎn.

Enterprises often rely on loans for development.

国际信市场波动很大。

Guójì xìndài shìchǎng bōdòng hěn dà.

The international credit market fluctuates greatly.

鉴于当前经济形势,银行收缩了信规模。

Jiànyú dāngqián jīngjì xíngshì, yínháng shōusuō le xìndài guīmó.

Given the current economic situation, the bank has reduced the scale of credit.