Meaning and Usage
貸す (かす) means "to lend" or "to loan" something to someone. It is used when you give something temporarily to another person expecting it to be returned. This verb is commonly used in everyday situations such as lending books, money, or tools.
Common Collocations
- 本を貸す: to lend a book
- お金を貸す: to lend money
- 〜に貸す: to lend to someone (particle に marks the person receiving the item)
Usage Notes
貸す is a transitive verb, so it requires a direct object (the thing being lent) and an indirect object marked by に (the person who receives the item). When you want to express borrowing from someone, you use 貸してもらう (to receive the favor of lending).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 貸す (to lend) with 借りる (かりる, to borrow). Remember: 貸す is from the lender's perspective, and 借りる is from the borrower's perspective.
Politeness
貸す is neutral and can be used in casual and polite contexts. For more formal situations, you might hear お貸しする as a humble form.