Translation guide
The English word 'loan' can refer to lending money, borrowing money, or the thing lent/borrowed. In Japanese, different words are used depending on whether you are lending or borrowing, and the context (bank loan, personal loan, etc.).
To express the act of borrowing money, especially from a bank or financial institution.
General term for borrowing money or being in debt. Can refer to the act of borrowing or the debt itself.
彼は銀行から借金をした。
He took out a loan from the bank.
Loanword from English, commonly used for specific types of loans like car loans, housing loans, etc. Often combined with another word.
住宅ローンを組む。
To take out a mortgage (housing loan).
Financing or lending, often used in business or formal contexts. Can refer to the act of lending by an institution.
銀行が企業に融資を行う。
The bank provides loans to businesses.
To express the act of lending money to another person or entity.
General verb meaning 'to lend'. Can be used for money or objects.
友達にお金を貸した。
I loaned money to a friend.
Noun meaning 'lending' or 'loan', often used in financial contexts.
To refer to the loan as a sum of money.
To refer to a word borrowed from another language.
Standard term for a loanword, usually from Western languages.
「コンピューター」は外来語です。
'Computer' is a loanword.
Linguistic term for a borrowed word, including from Chinese or other languages.
借金 (しゃっきん) is a general term for debt or borrowing money, often with a negative connotation of being in debt. ローン is a neutral term for a structured loan product (car loan, mortgage, etc.) and is commonly used in consumer finance.
彼は借金で首が回らない。
He is up to his neck in debt.
車のローンを申し込んだ。
I applied for a car loan.
English 'to loan' is often translated as 貸す (to lend) or 借りる (to borrow). There is no single Japanese verb that covers both directions like English 'loan' sometimes does. Be clear about who is giving and who is receiving.
銀行が私にお金を貸した。
The bank loaned me money.
私は銀行からお金を借りた。
I borrowed money from the bank.
銀行の貸し付けが厳しくなった。
Bank lending has become stricter.
The loan repayments are tough.
To collect on loans.
日本語には多くの借用語がある。
Japanese has many loanwords.