A1 verb 2 min read

빌려주다

To let someone use something of yours for a short time.

billyeojuda
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use 빌려주다 when you give something to a friend for a short time. For example, if your friend does not have a pen, you can give your pen to them. You expect the pen to come back later. It is a very kind thing to do!

At this level, you start using 빌려주다 in sentences with friends. You might say, 'Can I lend you my umbrella?' It is important to know that you are the owner of the item. If you are the one taking the item, you use 빌리다 instead.

Intermediate learners use this to describe favors. You might discuss lending money or equipment. It is common to hear this in requests like, 'Could you please lend me your notes?' Note that the focus is on the act of giving temporary access.

At the B2 level, you understand the nuance of social obligation. Lending is not just about objects; it is about building relationships. You might use it in professional contexts, such as 'The bank lent the company money,' though formal Korean might use different verbs like 대여하다.

Advanced users employ 빌려주다 in figurative ways. You can 'lend' your voice to a cause or 'lend' credibility to an argument. This shows a sophisticated grasp of how physical actions translate into abstract concepts in Korean, enriching your descriptive power.

Mastery involves understanding the cultural weight of lending. In some contexts, refusing to 빌려주다 can be a social faux pas. You understand the subtle difference between lending an item and giving a gift, and you can navigate the complex social etiquette surrounding borrowing and lending in Korea.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Means to lend.
  • Compound of 'borrow' and 'give'.
  • Used for physical and abstract things.
  • Essential for social relationships.

The Korean verb 빌려주다 is a compound word formed by 빌리다 (to borrow) and 주다 (to give). In English, we translate this as to lend. It is a vital word for social interaction because it describes the act of sharing your belongings.

Think of it as an act of trust. When you 빌려주다, you are saying, 'I trust you to take care of this and bring it back.' It is used for physical objects like books, pens, or money, and even abstract things like time or support.

The root 빌리다 has ancient roots in the Korean language related to the concept of 'taking' or 'receiving' something temporarily. By adding 주다, the language creates a clear distinction between the person receiving the favor and the person providing it.

Historically, this reflects the communal nature of traditional Korean society, where sharing resources was essential for survival. The structure is very logical, clearly marking the direction of the action from the owner to the borrower.

You use 빌려주다 when you are the owner of the item. If you want to say 'I will lend you my book,' you would say 책을 빌려줄게. It is common to use this with friends, family, and colleagues.

Common collocations include 돈을 빌려주다 (lend money) or 우산을 빌려주다 (lend an umbrella). It is a neutral-to-polite verb, so it fits well in almost any social situation.

1. 귀를 빌려주다: Literally 'to lend an ear,' meaning to listen carefully to someone. 2. 손을 빌려주다: To lend a hand, meaning to help someone with a task. 3. 힘을 빌려주다: To lend one's strength or support to a cause. 4. 시간을 빌려주다: To spare some time for someone. 5. 마음을 빌려주다: To open one's heart to someone.

As a regular verb, it follows standard Korean conjugation rules. In the present tense, it becomes 빌려줘요 (polite) or 빌려준다 (plain). Pronunciation involves a smooth transition between the 'l' sounds, often sounding like 'bil-ryeo-ju-da' to non-native speakers.

Remember that it requires an object particle (을/를) for the item being lent and a dative particle (에게/한테) for the person receiving the item.

Fun Fact

It is a perfect example of how Korean combines two verbs to create a specific meaning.

Pronunciation Guide

UK bil-ryeo-ju-da

Crisp 'l' sounds.

US bil-ryeo-ju-da

Smooth transition.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing the 'ryeo' sound
  • Merging 'bil' and 'ryeo'
  • Incorrect stress on 'ju'

Rhymes With

보여주다 알려주다 가르쳐주다 도와주다 말해주다

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5

Easy to use

Speaking 2/5

Commonly used

Listening 2/5

Commonly heard

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

주다 나 친구

Learn Next

빌리다 반납하다 돌려주다

Advanced

대여하다 제공하다

Grammar to Know

Dative Particles

친구에게

Verb Conjugation

빌려주었다

Polite Speech

빌려주세요

Examples by Level

1

친구에게 펜을 빌려줬어요.

I lent a pen to my friend.

Past tense form.

2

책을 빌려주세요.

Please lend me the book.

Polite request.

3

우산을 빌려줄까요?

Shall I lend you my umbrella?

Offer form.

4

돈을 빌려주다.

To lend money.

Basic verb form.

5

그가 나에게 차를 빌려줬다.

He lent me his car.

Subject-object-verb.

6

노트를 빌려줄 수 있어요?

Can you lend me your notes?

Ability form.

7

자전거를 빌려주다.

To lend a bicycle.

Verb usage.

8

가방을 빌려줬어요.

I lent the bag.

Object focus.

1

친구에게 돈을 빌려주는 것은 어렵다.

2

그녀는 나에게 옷을 빌려주었다.

3

선생님이 지우개를 빌려주셨어요.

4

내일 책을 빌려줄게.

5

누가 너에게 돈을 빌려줬니?

6

그는 항상 물건을 잘 빌려준다.

7

우리는 서로 물건을 빌려준다.

8

카메라를 빌려주셔서 감사합니다.

1

도움을 빌려주는 것은 큰 의미가 있다.

2

은행이 그 회사에 자금을 빌려주었다.

3

그는 친구에게 자기 집을 빌려주었다.

4

귀를 빌려줄 수 있나요?

5

시간을 빌려주셔서 감사합니다.

6

경험을 빌려주다.

7

그는 자신의 지식을 빌려주었다.

8

누구에게도 물건을 빌려주지 마세요.

1

그녀는 자신의 목소리를 빌려주어 캠페인을 도왔다.

2

그의 조언은 나에게 힘을 빌려주었다.

3

역사는 우리에게 교훈을 빌려준다.

4

그는 자신의 신분을 빌려주어 문제를 일으켰다.

5

예술은 우리에게 새로운 시각을 빌려준다.

6

그는 기꺼이 자신의 능력을 빌려주었다.

7

그들은 서로의 어깨를 빌려주며 울었다.

8

자신의 시간을 빌려주는 것은 가장 큰 선물이다.

1

그는 자신의 권위를 빌려주어 그 프로젝트를 지지했다.

2

이 이론은 다른 분야에서 개념을 빌려온 것이다.

3

그는 자신의 명성을 빌려주어 사기극을 도왔다.

4

자연은 우리에게 평온을 빌려준다.

5

그는 자신의 영감을 빌려주어 작가를 도왔다.

6

이 영화는 고전 소설에서 플롯을 빌려왔다.

7

우리는 조상으로부터 지구를 빌려 쓰고 있다.

8

그는 자신의 모든 것을 빌려주었다.

1

그는 자신의 삶을 타인에게 빌려주는 듯한 연기를 했다.

2

그 사상은 과거의 지혜를 빌려와 현대에 적용했다.

3

운명은 우리에게 잠시 시간을 빌려줄 뿐이다.

4

그는 자신의 고통을 빌려주어 타인의 공감을 얻었다.

5

언어는 문화의 파편을 빌려와 의미를 형성한다.

6

그는 자신의 존재를 빌려주어 세상을 바꿨다.

7

시간은 누구에게도 영원히 빌려주지 않는다.

8

그는 자신의 그림자를 빌려주어 빛을 증명했다.

Common Collocations

돈을 빌려주다
책을 빌려주다
우산을 빌려주다
귀를 빌려주다
손을 빌려주다
힘을 빌려주다
시간을 빌려주다
차를 빌려주다
노트를 빌려주다
지우개를 빌려주다

Idioms & Expressions

"귀를 빌려주다"

To listen to someone.

잠시 귀를 빌려줄 수 있나요?

neutral

"손을 빌려주다"

To help out.

바쁜데 손 좀 빌려줄래?

casual

"힘을 빌려주다"

To support.

그의 성공을 위해 힘을 빌려주었다.

neutral

"어깨를 빌려주다"

To offer comfort.

슬픈 그녀에게 어깨를 빌려주었다.

literary

"마음을 빌려주다"

To open one's heart.

그에게 마음을 빌려주기까지 오래 걸렸다.

literary

"시간을 빌려주다"

To spare time.

잠시 시간을 빌려주어 감사해요.

polite

Easily Confused

빌려주다 vs 빌리다

Opposite meaning

Borrowing vs Lending

책을 빌리다 vs 책을 빌려주다

빌려주다 vs 대여하다

Same meaning

Formal vs Neutral

차를 대여하다 vs 차를 빌려주다

빌려주다 vs 내어주다

Similar structure

Giving vs Lending

자리를 내어주다

빌려주다 vs 제공하다

Similar function

Providing vs Lending

정보를 제공하다

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + Object + Dative + 빌려주다

내가 친구에게 책을 빌려주었다.

A2

Could you please + verb?

책을 빌려주실 수 있나요?

A2

I will + verb

내일 우산을 빌려줄게.

B1

It is good to + verb

도움을 빌려주는 것은 좋다.

C1

Figurative + verb

그는 자신의 목소리를 빌려주었다.

Word Family

Nouns

빌림 The act of borrowing/lending

Verbs

빌리다 To borrow

Related

대여 Formal noun for lending

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

대여하다 (Formal) 빌려주다 (Neutral) 빌려줘 (Casual) 빌려주게 (Slang/Old)

Common Mistakes

빌려주다 vs 빌리다 → Context dependent
Learners often mix up borrowing (빌리다) and lending (빌려주다).
빌려주었다 vs 빌려줬다 → Both are correct
The latter is a contraction, which is common in speech.
나에게 빌려주다 → Correct
Some learners forget the particle '에게' (to me).
빌려주기 → Verb noun form
Used as a noun, but needs to be used correctly in a sentence.
빌려주지 마세요 → Negative imperative
Ensure the negative form is used correctly.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a library where you are the librarian.

💡

Native Context

Used when you want to be kind.

🌍

Cultural Insight

Sharing is highly valued.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

Remember: Owner + Item + Recipient + 빌려주다.

💡

Say It Right

Practice the 'ryeo' sound.

💡

Don't Mix Up

Borrow vs Lend.

💡

Did You Know?

It's a compound verb.

💡

Study Smart

Use it in daily sentences.

💡

Related Words

Learn 빌리다 together.

💡

Journaling

Write about something you lent.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Bill (빌) is giving (주다) his things away.

Visual Association

A person handing a book to a friend.

Word Web

sharing trust temporary return

Challenge

Try to lend something small to a friend today.

Word Origin

Korean

Original meaning: To grant temporary possession

Cultural Context

Asking to borrow money can be sensitive in Korea.

Lending is seen as a sign of trust and community.

Many K-dramas feature scenes where characters lend umbrellas or money.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At school

  • 펜 좀 빌려주세요
  • 노트 빌려줄 수 있어?
  • 지우개 빌려줄게

At home

  • 우산 빌려줄까?
  • 돈 좀 빌려주세요
  • 책 빌려줄게

At work

  • 시간을 빌려주셔서 감사합니다
  • 도움을 빌려주세요
  • 자료를 빌려주다

Socializing

  • 귀를 빌려줄게
  • 어깨를 빌려주다
  • 힘을 빌려주다

Conversation Starters

"What is the last thing you lent to someone?"

"Do you find it hard to lend money?"

"Have you ever lent your car to a friend?"

"When was the last time someone lent you a hand?"

"Is it better to lend or to give?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you lent something important.

How does lending affect your relationships?

Describe a situation where someone lent you something unexpected.

Reflect on the phrase '귀를 빌려주다'.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

It is better to use formal language.

Use '빌리다'.

Yes, '시간을 빌려주다' is common.

Yes.

You might say '돌려달라고 하다'.

Yes, in a poetic sense.

Yes, but '대여' is more common.

Not directly.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

친구에게 책을 ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 빌려주다

The context is sharing a book.

multiple choice A2

What does '빌려주다' mean?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: To lend

It means to let someone use something.

true false B1

빌려주다 is the same as 빌리다.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

They are opposites.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Correct translation match.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Standard Korean word order.

fill blank A2

어제 친구에게 우산을 ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 빌려줬어요

Past tense of lend.

multiple choice B1

Which idiom means 'to listen'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 귀를 빌려주다

Literal idiom.

true false B2

빌려주다 can be used for abstract concepts.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: True

Yes, like lending support.

match pairs C1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Figurative usage.

sentence order C2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Advanced sentence structure.

Score: /10

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