About
The character "借", meaning to borrow or lend, originally derived from a more complex traditional form "藉", which itself combined the phonetic component "昔" with the radical "耒" for a plow, suggesting a connection to lending farm tools or resources. Over time, the character was semantically refined and simplified for common use, adopting the "亻" (human) radical to more directly indicate human action, while retaining "昔" primarily for its sound. Its core meaning of temporarily using something belonging to another has remained consistent, though it carries an inherent duality, as the same word can mean both to borrow and to lend, with context determining the direction of the transaction. This simplified form "借" eventually supplanted the older "藉" in most financial and transactional contexts, streamlining the character while preserving its essential concept.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我想借一本书。
他借了我五块钱。
你可以借我笔吗？
我向图书馆借书。
借钱需要还利息。
他借口有事离开了。
借助工具可以省力。
我们借这个机会庆祝一下。