lend money at interest; loan-sharking
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to lend money at interest
neutralHistorically common, sometimes carries a negative connotation of usury or predatory lending, especially in older contexts. It can be neutral, but in modern usage, 放高利贷 (fàng gāolìdài) is more explicit for loan-sharking.
Jiù旧
shè社
huì会
de的
dì地
zhǔ主
cháng常
cháng常
xiàng向
nóng农
mín民
fàng放
zhài债
，
shōu收
qǔ取
gāo高
é额
lì利
xī息
。
In the old society, landlords often lent money to peasants at high interest rates.
Tā他
kào靠
fàng放
zhài债
jī积
lěi累
le了
yī一
bǐ笔
cái财
fù富
。
He accumulated a fortune by lending money at interest.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Fǎ法
lǜ律
jìn禁
zhǐ止
fēi非
fǎ法
fàng放
zhài债
xíng行
wéi为
。
The law prohibits illegal money-lending practices.
Bú不
yào要
xiàng向
bú不
shú熟
xī悉
de的
rén人
fàng放
zhài债
，
fēng风
xiǎn险
hěn很
dà大
。
Don't lend money at interest to people you don't know well; the risk is high.