to lend / borrow
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to lend something
To make something available to someone for a certain period of time, with the expectation of getting it back.
Kannst du mir für die Party dein schwarzes Kleid leihen?
Can you lend me your black dress for the party?
The verb 'leihen' (to lend/borrow) describes two directions: giving and taking. The grammatical structure with dative and accusative, as well as the reflexive pronoun 'sich', shows who gives and who receives.
Ich leihe dir mein Buch.
I lend you my book.
When you lend something to someone, the person who receives something is in the dative. The thing you give away is in the accusative. The structure is: subject + leiht + [person in dative] + [thing in accusative].
Mein Bruder leiht mir sein Auto für das Wochenende.
My brother is lending me his car for the weekend.
When you borrow something, you use the reflexive verb 'sich leihen'. The person you get something from is named with 'von + dative'. The structure is: subject + leiht sich + [thing in accusative] + von + [person in dative].
Ich habe mir das Werkzeug von meinem Nachbarn geliehen.
I borrowed the tool from my neighbor.
The expression 'jemandem sein Ohr leihen' (to lend someone one's ear) is figurative and means 'to listen attentively'. The structure is fixed: the person you listen to is in the dative.
Mein bester Freund leiht mir immer sein Ohr, wenn ich Probleme habe.
My best friend always lends me an ear when I have problems.
to record / take in
'einen Kredit aufnehmen' (to take out a loan) and 'sich etwas leihen' (to borrow something) both have to do with getting something for a certain period of time and having to return it later. 'einen Kredit aufnehmen' is used specifically for money, usually from a bank or an institution. It sounds more formal and often has to do with a contract, interest, and repayment. 'sich etwas leihen' is more general and fits money, books, tools, or other things, often between friends or in everyday life. The confusion arises because you can also borrow money. But with a bank, it is more natural to say 'einen Kredit aufnehmen'; with small things or private situations, you say 'sich etwas leihen'.
Kannst du dir für den Termin kurz mein Fahrrad leihen?
Can you borrow my bike briefly for the appointment?
Für die neue Wohnung nimmt Maria einen Kredit bei der Bank auf.
Maria is taking out a loan from the bank for the new apartment.