Definition

Verb: - To loan; to lend: The act of temporarily giving something to someone with the expectation that it will be returned. It implies granting the use or possession of an item for a period of time.

Usage

The verb cho mượn is used when the subject (the lender) allows the object (the borrower) to temporarily use an item. The lender retains ownership, and the borrower is expected to return the item. - It is a transitive verb and requires an object (the thing being lent). - The structure is typically: Subject + cho mượn + Object (+ cho + Recipient). - The recipient (the person borrowing) is often introduced by cho (to/for).

Usage Examples

• (She lent me a book.)
• (Does he lend out his bicycle?)
• (I will loan this camera to my friend for a week.)

Advanced Usage

• Implied Trust: The act of cho mượn often carries an implicit sense of trust between the lender and the borrower.
• Formal vs. Informal: It is used in both formal and informal contexts. In very formal or legal contexts, cho vay is used specifically for money.
• Negative Constraint: It can be used to state an unwillingness to lend.
  • Tôi không cho mượn đồ đạc cho người lạ. (I don't lend my belongings to strangers.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cho vay (verb): To lend (specifically money, with or without interest). This is the standard term for financial loans.
  • Ngân hàng cho vay tiền với lãi suất thấp. (The bank lends money at a low interest rate.)
• Mượn (verb): To borrow. This is the action from the borrower's perspective.
  • Tôi muốn mượn cây bút của bạn. (I want to borrow your pen.)
• Sự cho mượn (noun): The act of lending.
  • Sự cho mượn này dựa trên lòng tin. (This lending is based on trust.)

Synonyms

• Đưa cho mượn: To hand over for borrowing (emphasizes the physical act of giving).
• Cho dùng tạm: To let someone use temporarily (a more descriptive phrase).

Related Phrases (Not Phrasal Verbs)

• Cho mượn không lấy tiền: To lend without charging money; to lend for free.
  • Thư viện cho mượn sách không lấy tiền. (The library lends books for free.)
• Sẵn sàng cho mượn: Willing to lend.
  • Anh ta rất sẵn sàng cho mượn công cụ của mình. (He is very willing to lend his tools.)

Related Idioms

• Cho mượn nước mắt: Literally "to lend tears," meaning to feign sadness or cry crocodile tears. This is an idiomatic use where cho mượn takes on a figurative meaning.
  • Đừng tin cô ấy, cô ấy chỉ đang cho mượn nước mắt thôi. (Don't believe her, she's just crying crocodile tears.)

verb

1. to loan; to lend