貸す

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 貸す is a transitive godan verb read かす, meaning to let another person use one's property for a limited period.
• Basic usage: Mark the item with を and the recipient with に, as in 友人に自転車を貸す.
  • 明日までなら、この傘を貸してもいいよ。 offers to lend an umbrella on the condition that it is kept only until tomorrow; 私は旅行中、友人に自転車を貸した。 says that the speaker lent a bicycle to a friend during a trip.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 人に物を貸す
  • に marks the person receiving the loan, while を marks the item lent.
• 貸してもいい
  • てもいい gives permission or expresses willingness to perform the lending action.
• 貸す and 借りる
  • 貸す describes the owner's act of lending, while 借りる describes the user's act of borrowing.