借阅 (jiè yuè) — to borrow and read (library materials); to check out (books, periodicals)

Definition

A formal verb used in library settings for borrowing and reading materials. Compare with 借 (jiè), which is the general word for borrowing (money, things, ideas).

verb
to borrow and read (library materials)to check out (books, periodicals)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 借阅。
    Wǒ zài tú shū guǎn jiè yuè le jǐ běn zhuān yè shū.
    I borrowed and read several professional books at the library.
  • 借阅。
    Zhè zhāng jiè shū kǎ kě yǐ jiè yuè shí běn shū.
    This library card allows you to check out ten books.
  • 借阅。
    Tā měi zhōu dōu qù tú shū guǎn jiè yuè zá zhì.
    He goes to the library every week to borrow and read magazines.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

借jièborrow
阅yuèread

借 (borrow) and 阅 (read) are parallel actions, meaning to borrow and read materials.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
昔
昔xī借jiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

借 combines 人, a person, with 昔, which shows the sound.

Open 借 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 閱; 阅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門mén
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì閱yuè
Same sound today

The traditional form 閱 pairs 門, a gate, with 兌, a part that gives the sound; the simplified 阅 is a shorthand.

Open 阅 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.