대여 and 반납: Read the Two Ends of a Lending Counter

대여 points to lending or rental; 반납 points to giving an item back. At a library or equipment counter, reading those two labels can help you find the right part of the transaction. Neither word, by itself, tells you the fee, deadline or return location.

In this guide

1. 1. Start with the direction of the item
2. 2. Read the nearby noun too
3. 3. Four questions you can actually use
4. 4. A short return conversation
5. 5. Common reading questions

1. Start with the direction of the item

The National Institute of Korean Language’s Basic Korean Dictionary defines 대여 as lending goods or money and 반납 as giving back something borrowed or received. For a visitor reading a counter sign, the useful contrast is the beginning of use versus the return.

On an imaginary umbrella counter, 대여 asks you to investigate how to obtain an umbrella for temporary use. 반납 directs attention to handing it back. The actual service may have eligibility rules, an identity check or a deposit. Those conditions need separate information; they are not contained in the word 대여.

2. Read the nearby noun too

Sign or phrase	What to look for	Question still unanswered
물품 대여	Items available for temporary use	Which items and on what terms?
반납 창구	The return counter	Is this the right counter for my item?
반납 기일	The return deadline	What exact date or time applies?
무료 대여	A lending service described as free	Are deposits or other conditions separate?

The first three examples use ordinary dictionary vocabulary in a practical reading exercise. 무료 adds the idea of “free,” but a short sign is still not a complete service agreement. Read the posted instructions and ask if an amount is unclear.

3. Four questions you can actually use

These are original practice sentences for a fictional service counter:

• 이 우산을 대여할 수 있어요? — Can I borrow/rent this umbrella?
• 대여료가 얼마예요? — How much is the rental fee?
• 몇 시까지 반납해야 해요? — By what time do I have to return it?
• 어디에 반납하면 돼요? — Where should I return it?

Pointing to the item makes the first sentence easier to understand. If the answer gives a date rather than an hour, write the date down instead of assuming “today.” If you hear the name of another desk, repeat it to confirm that you understood the location.

4. A short return conversation

Visitor: 이 책을 반납하려고 해요. I’d like to return this book.
Staff: 이 창구에서 반납하시면 돼요. You can return it at this counter.
Visitor: 감사합니다. Thank you.

This is a made-up language exercise, not a promise about a real library’s procedure. To practise, change 이 책 to 이 우산 while keeping the return question. Then change the situation back to obtaining an item and choose 대여 instead.

Practise the word and the practical detail together. A correct label does not replace asking about the due time or desk.

5. Common reading questions

Does 대여 always mean a paid rental?

The dictionary’s core meaning is lending. Look for separate words and instructions about fees; do not assume a price from 대여 alone.

Does 반납 only apply to library books?

No. The dictionary includes borrowed or received items. The object and service context tell you what must be returned.

How can I remember the difference?

Draw one item moving away from a counter and then back to it. Label the outward service 대여 and the return 반납, then add a separate box for the actual deadline.

Read the official 대여 dictionary entryRead the official 반납 dictionary entry

Sources checked on 8 October 2026. Basic Korean Dictionary: 대여 Basic Korean Dictionary: 반납

The cover illustration was created with AI to explain the topic.