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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing borrowing or making use of with 借用 (jièyòng)

    Actions & Events
    Existence & Possession

    Structure

    Subject + 借用 + Object

    Explanation

    借用 (jièyòng) means "to borrow" or "to make use of" and refers to temporarily using something that belongs to someone else. It can also be used figuratively, such as borrowing an idea or a term from another context. It is more formal than 借 alone and emphasizes the intended use of the borrowed item.

    Examples

    • 我能借用你的电脑发一封邮件吗？

      Wǒ néng jièyòng nǐ de diànnǎo fā yī fēng yóujiàn ma?

      May I borrow your computer to send an email?

    • 这篇文章借用了经济学的概念来分析社会问题。

      Zhè piān wénzhāng jièyòng le jīngjìxué de gàiniàn lái fēnxī shèhuì wèntí.

      This article borrows concepts from economics to analyze social issues.

    • 他借用朋友的车去机场接人。

      Tā jièyòng péngyou de chē qù jīchǎng jiē rén.

      He borrowed his friend's car to pick someone up at the airport.

    Often Confused With

    Expressing borrowing or making use of with 借用 (jièyòng) | Chinese Grammar