Recognize 借 in 借りる and 借り物. Connect each word’s reading with its meaning in context.

The idea

借 has 10 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order. Read 借りる（かりる） and 借り物（かりもの） as whole words: a kanji’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
借りるかりるI borrow a dictionary from a friend.
借り物かりものThis is something I borrowed from a friend.
借金しゃっきんI paid back all my debt.

Examples

  • 友達ともだちから辞書じしょを借かります。I borrow a dictionary from a friend.
  • この自転車じてんしゃを借かりてもいいですか。May I borrow this bicycle?
  • これは友達ともだちからの借かり物ものです。This is something I borrowed from a friend.
  • この借かり物ものを明日あした返かえします。I’ll return this borrowed item tomorrow.
  • 借金しゃっきんを全部ぜんぶ返かえしました。I paid back all my debt.
  • 借金しゃっきんの額がくを記録きろくします。I record the amount of the debt.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

借りる means to borrow from someone; 貸す means to lend to someone. Do not assume that every word containing 借 has the same meaning or reading. Compare 借 with 惜; pay attention to 亻／忄 when distinguishing their shapes.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 借りる in hiragana.

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    かりる

    借りる is read かりる. In context: I borrow a dictionary from a friend.

  2. Write the reading of 借り物 in hiragana.

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    かりもの

    借り物 is read かりもの. In context: This is something I borrowed from a friend.

  3. Write the missing kanji: ＿金（しゃっきん）［借／惜］.

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    借

    借 completes 借金, read しゃっきん. In context: I paid back all my debt.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 借 from memory and read 借りる and 借り物 aloud. Check your readings against the examples.