借り

Japanese

Alternative forms

• 借 (more common as an abbreviation)

Etymology

Kanji in this term
借
か Grade: 4
kun’yomi

Originally the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of classical verb 借る (karu, “to borrow”), now also the 連用形 (ren'yōkei) of modern verb 借りる (kariru, “to borrow”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) かり [kàrí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ka̠ɾʲi]

Noun

借(か)り • (kari) 

1. borrowing, a debt, a loan (for the borrower, not the lender)
2. (obsolete) in the Edo period, a system for arranging house calls by prostitutes
3. (accounting, abbreviation) borrower, debtor: short for 借方(かりかた) (karikata)

Antonyms

(antonym(s) of “borrowing, debt”): 貸(か)し (kashi): lending, a credit, a loan (for the lender, not the borrower)