pinjam

Pinjam is a verb in Malay and Indonesian that denotes the act of taking something from another person with the intention of returning it. The related verb meminjamkan means to lend, while the passive forms dipinjam and dipinjamkan indicate something being borrowed or lent, respectively. The noun pinjaman refers to a loan or credit, and related terms include peminjam (the borrower) and pemberi pinjaman (the lender).

In Indonesian and Malay usage, pinjam can stand in informal and formal contexts. Examples include Saya pinjam buku dari perpustakaan and Saya meminjam buku dari perpustakaan. The distinction between pinjam and meminjamkan is important: pinjam is the act of borrowing by the person who asks to use something, whereas meminjamkan is the act of giving temporary use to someone else.

Pinjam contrasts with menyewa, which typically implies paying for the use of something over a period, such as renting. The term pinjaman is often used in financial contexts to refer to loans, including pinjaman uang (cash loan) or pinjaman perbankan, where interest may apply.

Etiquette around pinjam emphasizes returning the item in good condition and within an agreed timeframe. In legal or financial writing, more precise vocabulary tends to be used, with pinjaman, peminjam, and pemberi pinjaman conveying the roles of borrower and lender, and bunga used to denote interest.

Examples illustrate common usage: “Saya pinjam mobil teman.” “Dia meminjamkan buku kepada saya.” “Buku itu telah saya pinjam dari perpustakaan.” “Pinjaman uang dari bank.”