借りる vs 貸してもらう
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 借りる
Listen to 貸してもらう
| 借りる | 貸してもらう |
|---|---|
ka-RI-ru verb (ru-verb, transitive) | かしてもらう verb (ru-verb, transitive) |
| to borrow; to rent (temporarily take something from someone) | to have someone lend (to receive a favor of lending) |
How they differ
貸してもらう emphasizes the act of receiving a favor from someone — it focuses on the lender's action and often carries a nuance of gratitude or obligation, whereas 借りる is a neutral verb for taking something temporarily.
When to use each
When to use 借りる: Use 借りる for neutral descriptions of borrowing without emphasizing who did you the favor.
When to use 貸してもらう: Use 貸してもらう when you want to stress that someone lent you something (and often to express gratitude or that it was their kindness).
Side-by-side examples
- 図書館でその本を借りた。
(I borrowed that book from the library.) - 田中さんに本を貸してもらった。
(I had Mr. Tanaka lend me a book (he did me a favor).)
Register & nuance: Casual and spoken; often used in everyday conversation and can be softened or made more polite (e.g., 貸していただいた) in formal contexts.