WHOLE CHARACTER
借
to borrow; to lend; to use as a pretext (借口); to rely on (凭借)
借 is to borrow or lend: 借书 'to borrow a book', 借钱 'to borrow money'. People also make a 借口 'excuse' or 凭借 'rely on' something.
ZDIC: 会意，从亻、从昔.
Character Familiesleft / right
借
to borrow; to lend; to use as a pretext (借口); to rely on (凭借)
借 is to borrow or lend: 借书 'to borrow a book', 借钱 'to borrow money'. People also make a 借口 'excuse' or 凭借 'rely on' something.
GF0025–2021 character list · 二级One character pageAll readings and linked senses stay together.
WHOLE GLYPH & STRUCTURE
left / right
ZDIC: 会意，从亻、从昔.
MEANING: THE PERSON SIDE
亻
person (from 人)
Left-side person form; not a standalone page.
In 借: meaning: the person side The standing-person radical.
RIGHT: 昔 (XĪ), NAMED BY ZDIC'S 会意 ACCOUNT
昔
former times
Standalone meaning is kept separate from its role in other characters.
In 借: right: 昔 (xī), named by ZDIC's 会意 account A meaning-side pairing from the source's account, not a sound hint: jiè has no modern sound relation with xī.
Tone 4
- to borrow
- to lend
- to use as a pretext (借口)
- to rely on (凭借)
- 借书to borrow a book
- 借钱to borrow money
- 借口excuse; pretext
- 凭借to rely on
Checking for a Mandarin voice…