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贳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
贳shìto borrow; to pardon; loanx, 9 strokes, radical 贝
贳shìto buy on creditunknown, 9 strokes, radical 贝
贳shìto rent outunknown, 9 strokes, radical 贝
shì(shi4) T4
  1. 1to borrow; to pardon; loan
  2. 2to buy on credit
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March 24, 2026

贳(貰)shì(shi4)

The character 贳 (shì) primarily means 'to borrow' or 'to loan.' It is often used in financial contexts, such as borrowing money or buying on credit. The nuances include the idea of granting or pardoning in certain contexts, making it versatile in discussions about finance and obligation.

Strokes9Radical贝
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, borrowing and lending are often tied to social relationships and trust, making the use of 贳 significant in both personal and business dealings. The concept of credit is also becoming increasingly relevant in modern financial practices.

Memory Tip

Think of 贳 (shì) as a combination of 'money' (the left radical is related to wealth) and 'to give' (the right side suggests an action of giving). Imagine a scenario where you borrow money from a friend, and you promise to give it back, connecting the act of borrowing with the notion of trust.

Meanings of 贳

shì(shi4)
1to borrow; to pardon; loan
2to buy on credit
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 贳

贳Simplified
貰Traditional
9Strokes
贝Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 贳

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Podcast: 贳

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AI Study Notes for 贳

Usage Notes

Be cautious about using 贳 in informal contexts, as it is more formal and typically used in written language. Common collocations include '借贳' (jiè shì - to borrow money) and '赊账' (shē zhàng - to buy on credit). Ensure you use the correct tone as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 贳 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other financial terms such as 借 (jiè - to borrow) and 贷 (dài - to lend). Focus on understanding its usage in financial contexts and how it complements other related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 贳 with 借 (jiè) because both relate to borrowing, but 贳 is more about borrowing with an obligation of repayment. For example, saying '我借贳一本书' (wǒ jiè shì yī běn shū - I borrow a book) is incorrect; use '我借一本书' instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 贳

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Etymology of 贳

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

money

Semantic (meaning)贝
+
Phonetic (sound)世
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

贳 = 贝 + 世. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 贳

IDS Structure⿱世贝
贳Full Character
=
世Shi4
top
贝Bei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 贳?

How to say to borrow; to pardon; loan in Chinese

“to borrow; to pardon; loan” in Chinese is贳shì

The character 贳 (shì) primarily means 'to borrow' or 'to loan.' It is often used in financial contexts, such as borrowing money or buying on credit. The nuances include the idea of granting or pardoning in certain contexts, making it versatile in discussions about finance and obligation.

When to use 贳

Be cautious about using 贳 in informal contexts, as it is more formal and typically used in written language. Common collocations include '借贳' (jiè shì - to borrow money) and '赊账' (shē zhàng - to buy on credit). Ensure you use the correct tone as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 贳 with 借 (jiè) because both relate to borrowing, but 贳 is more about borrowing with an obligation of repayment. For example, saying '我借贳一本书' (wǒ jiè shì yī běn shū - I borrow a book) is incorrect; use '我借一本书' instead.

Write 贳

贳

Practice writing 贳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 贳

Words Containing This Character1
贳shìto borrow貰

Frequently Asked Questions about 贳

No, 贳 is more formal and is typically used in written contexts, especially in legal or financial documents.

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