borrow (money); ask for a loan
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to borrow (money or items); to ask for a loan
formalA somewhat formal or traditional way of saying 'to borrow', specifically involving a request. It implies a need to ask for the item/money because it is not freely given.
Tā他
wèi为
le了
zhì治
bìng病
，
bù不
dé得
bù不
xiàng向
qīn亲
yǒu友
gào告
jiè借
。
To pay for his medical treatment, he had no choice but to borrow money from relatives and friends.
Gōng公
sī司
zī资
jīn金
zhōu周
zhuǎn转
bù不
líng灵
，
zhǐ只
hǎo好
duō多
fāng方
gào告
jiè借
。
The company was facing a cash flow problem and had to seek loans from various sources.
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Zài在
gǔ古
dài代
，
nóng农
mín民
qīng青
huáng黄
bù不
jiē接
shí时
cháng常
xiàng向
dì地
zhǔ主
gào告
jiè借
liáng粮
shi食
。
In ancient times, peasants would often have to borrow grain from landlords when the harvest was not yet in.