How do you say "to lend" in Japanese?

貸す

kasu

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to lend" is 貸す (kasu).

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Pronunciation

貸す is written using kanji. Romanised as kasu, it sounds roughly like "kah-soo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

The kanji 貸 combines metal (metal scale for weighing/measuring) with a right component, historically used for lending/borrowing transactions. A straightforward first-grade kanji.

Example sentence

彼女は公園で貸します。

Kanojo wa kouen de kashimasu.

She to lends in the park.

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How to remember 貸す

Picture lending money on a metal balance scale. Both lending and scales require fairness and balance, so remember lend = 貸.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 貸す

How do you pronounce 貸す?

貸す is romanised as kasu. Say it roughly like "kah-soo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 貸す formal or casual?

貸す is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 貸す written in Japanese?

貸す is written using kanji. The kanji 貸 combines metal (metal scale for weighing/measuring) with a right component, historically used for lending/borrowing transactions.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"To lend" in other languages

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