What is the difference between 借 and 借用?

借 暂时使用别人的财物等 Temporary use of other people’s property, etc.

借用 借来使用  Borrow to use 

我可以借您的手机用一下吗 Will be better




 

借：more spoken

借用：formal  

in the example above, the second expression is more better, but there is no problem in the first expression. there is a more common expression, 我可以借您的手机一用吗？

借用：

to borrow sth for another use/to borrow an idea for one's own use

借：

to lend/to borrow/by means of/to take (an opportunity)

 

借-borrow or lend

借用borrow and use

借+somebody=lend，

借用+sth=borrow

Like Tina said, 借 is commonly used in conversational Chinese, whereas 借用 is more formal and is best used with a two-character object as well.

借, spoken Chinese

借用, written Chinese

一般借是可以指你借东西给别人，也可以是别人借东西给你。

借用一般指你像别人借用某个东西。