貸 – Kanji Meaning, Reading, and Common Words

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What does 貸 mean in Japanese?

貸 means to lend or loan. The kun’yomi 貸す (kasu) is the everyday verb for lending — money, objects, a room, or a hand. 貸 is always learned alongside its counterpart 借 (borrow/rent), because the two verbs define each other: what one person 貸す, the other 借りる.

貸 also appears in practical noun compounds: 賃貸 (chintai, rental property), 貸し出し (kashidashi, loan of a library book or equipment), and 貸し切り (kashikiri, reserved exclusively, fully booked for a private event).

Reading

On’yomi: タイ (tai)

Kun’yomi: か-す (ka-su)

Basic Information

Kanji 貸
Meaning lend, loan
Stroke Count 12
JLPT Level N4

How to Understand This Kanji

貸す (transitive): you lend something to someone — お金を貸す (lend money), 本を貸す (lend a book), 傘を貸す (lend an umbrella). The direction is always from the lender outward: 〔lender〕が〔borrower〕に〔object〕を貸す. 賃貸 (chintai) specifically refers to renting out property for payment: 賃貸マンション (rental apartment), 賃貸契約 (rental agreement). 貸し切り (kashikiri) means an entire space or vehicle is reserved exclusively: 貸し切りバス (chartered bus), 貸し切りパーティー (private party with the venue reserved).

Common Words

  • 貸す（かす / kasu） — to lend, to loan
  • 賃貸（ちんたい / chintai） — rental (property), leasing
  • 貸し出し（かしだし / kashidashi） — lending out (library, equipment)
  • 貸し切り（かしきり / kashikiri） — reserved exclusively, chartered
  • 貸し借り（かしかり / kashikari） — lending and borrowing, give-and-take
  • 又貸し（またがし / matagashi） — subletting, re-lending to a third party

Example Sentences

  • 傘を貸してもらえますか？

    かさをかしてもらえますか？ / Kasa o kashite moraemasu ka?

    Could you lend me an umbrella?

  • この部屋は賃貸です。

    このへやはちんたいです。 / Kono heya wa chintai desu.

    This room is a rental.

  • 今日は貸し切りのため、入れません。

    きょうはかしきりのため、はいれません。 / Kyou wa kashikiri no tame, hairemasen.

    We cannot enter today as it is reserved for a private event.

Related Kanji

  • 借

    — Borrow — 貸す (lend) and 借りる (borrow) are the essential opposite pair; both are covered in Day 9 so the contrast can be studied together

  • 送

    — Send — 送る (send toward someone) and 貸す (lend to someone) are both outward-directed verbs covered together in Day 9

  • 賃

    — Wage/rent — 賃貸 (rental) = 賃 + 貸; 賃 adds the paid-rental nuance distinguishing a lease from a free loan

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

The 貸す / 借りる pair is the foundational lend-borrow contrast in Japanese. Both verbs are transitive and take を for the object, but the direction is opposite: 友達に本を貸す (lend a book to a friend) vs 友達から本を借りる (borrow a book from a friend). The particle に marks the recipient when lending, and から marks the source when borrowing.

〜を貸してください is the standard polite request for borrowing something: 傘を貸してください (please lend me an umbrella), ペンを貸してもらえますか？ (could you lend me a pen?). This phrase pattern is essential for everyday requests.

賃貸 (chintai, rental) = 賃 (wage/rent payment) + 貸 (lend). 賃貸住宅 (rental housing), 賃貸マンション (rental apartment/condo), 賃貸契約 (lease agreement). 賃貸 emphasises that money changes hands — it is a paid rental, not a free loan. Compare 貸し出し (kashidashi), which is used for free lending such as library loans or equipment checkout.

貸し切り (kashikiri, exclusive use) comes from 貸す + 切る (cut off, use up completely). A venue, vehicle, or service is 貸し切り when it is reserved entirely for one group: 貸し切りバス (chartered bus), 店を貸し切りにする (reserve the whole restaurant). 貸し切り on a sign means ‘reserved — not open to the public today.’

Summary

貸 means to lend or loan, with 貸す as the core verb. The 貸す/借りる pair is the essential lend-borrow contrast. Key compounds: 賃貸 (rental property), 貸し出し (library loan), 貸し切り (exclusive reservation).