Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The modern kanji 貸 (meaning 'to lend') evolved from ancient forms found in the Liushutong. It is a phono-semantic compound, combining the radical 貝 (shell, money) which signifies its financial meaning, with 代 (substitute, era) which provides phonetic value. The character's core concept is the temporary transfer of money or goods, implying a debt to be repaid. Over centuries, its structure was standardized into the form used today. Arrived in Japan: The character 貸, along with the broader Chinese writing system, is believed to have arrived in Japan around the 5th century AD, primarily through cultural exchange with the Korean peninsula and direct contact with China. It was formally adopted and integrated into the Japanese language during the Asuka and Nara periods.