How to say "borrowing" in Japanese

Choosing the right word
  • 借り入れかりいれCommon
    noun, suru verb, transitive verbRefers to borrowing money, as in taking out a loan from a bank; this is the natural choice for the financial sense of 'borrowing'.
    英国人えいこくじんはたくさんの語ごをフランス語ふらんすごから借入かりいれした。↗
    The English have adopted many words from French.
  • 借りかりJLPT N1approx.Common
    nounThe general noun for the act of borrowing; it can also mean a debt or loan, so it fits talk about what someone has borrowed or owes.
    なした約束やくそくは払はらってない借かりである。↗
    A promise made is a debt unpaid.
  • 拝借はいしゃくJLPT N1approx.Common
    noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe humble, polite way to say 'borrowing', used of your own action when speaking deferentially, as when politely asking to borrow something.
    ちょっとお知恵ちえを拝借はいしゃく願ねがえませんか?↗
    Could you give me some advice?
  • 借用しゃくようCommon
    noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers borrowing something in order to use it, such as rooms or equipment, rather than borrowing money; it can also correspond to 'loan'.
    この語ごはフランス語ふらんすごから借用しゃくようしたものだ。↗
    This word was borrowed from French.

Use 「借り入れ」 for borrowing money, 借用 for borrowing things to use, 「借り」 as the general noun that also covers debt, and 拝借 as the humble, polite term for one's own borrowing.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents
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JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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