金銭・経済

今月こんげつの支出ししゅつが収入しゅうにゅうを上回ってうわまわってしまった。

This month my spending ended up exceeding my income.

Usage 支出 is money going out, the opposite of 収入 (income): 支出を抑える (keep spending down), 支出が増える. For a household budget, 出費 (しゅっぴ) is the everyday word.

Remember it 支 (to pay out, support) + 出 (to go out) → money paid out.

出張しゅっちょうの経費けいひは会社かいしゃが負担ふたんしてくれる。

The company covers business trip expenses.

Usage 経費 is business expenses; 費用 (ひよう) is cost in general. 経費削減 = cost cutting, 経費で落とす = to put something on expenses, 負担する = to bear a cost.

Remember it 経 (to manage, pass through) + 費 (expense) → the expense of running things. The same 費 as 交通費 (travel costs).

壊してこわしてしまったので、弁償べんしょうしなければならない。

I broke it, so I have to pay for it.

Usage 弁償する = to pay for something you damaged or lost: 壊した皿を弁償する. 賠償 (ばいしょう) is formal legal compensation, and 補償 (ほしょう) is compensation for a loss suffered.

Remember it 弁 (to handle, settle) + 償 (to make amends) → settling up to make amends.

電気でんき代だいの請求書せいきゅうしょが届いたとどいた。

The electricity bill has arrived.

Usage 請求する = to bill or claim payment: 代金を請求する. 請求書 (せいきゅうしょ) is the invoice asking you to pay; 領収書 (りょうしゅうしょ) is the receipt proving you paid.

Remember it 請 (to request) + 求 (to demand) → asking for what you are owed.

最近さいきん景気けいきが悪くわるくて売上うりあげが落ちているおちている。

Business has been bad lately and sales are falling.

Usage 景気 is the business climate, how the economy feels right now: 景気がいい / 悪い, 景気回復 (recovery), 不景気 (recession). 経済 (けいざい) is the economy as a system.

Remember it 景 (scene, view) + 気 (mood) → the mood of the economic scene.

災害さいがい支援しえんのための募金ぼきん活動かつどうに参加さんかした。

I took part in a fundraising drive for disaster relief.

Usage 募金 is collecting donations from the public: 募金する, 募金箱 (collection box), 街頭募金 (street collection). 寄付 (きふ) is the act of donating itself.

Remember it 募 (to call for, gather) + 金 (money) → calling for money.

アルバイトアルバイトを募集ぼしゅうする広告こうこくを見たみた。

I saw an ad recruiting part-time workers.

Usage 募集する = to recruit or invite applications for people, entries or ideas: 社員募集 (now hiring), 参加者を募集する. 応募 (おうぼ) is the other side: applying.

Remember it 募 (to call for) + 集 (to gather) → calling people to gather.

困ってこまっていたときに助けてたすけてもらって、有難いありがたい気持ちきもちでいっぱいだ。

I was helped when I was in trouble, and I'm filled with gratitude.

Usage 有難い = something you're grateful for: 有難い話 (a kind offer), 有難いことに (fortunately). It is the root of ありがとう. Said sarcastically, 有難い忠告 is 'such precious advice'.

Remember it 有 (to exist) + 難い (hard) → hard to come by. Something rare, so you are thankful for it.

遅刻ちこくして本当にほんとうに申し訳もうしわけない。

I'm truly sorry for being late.

Usage 申し訳ない is a serious apology, more formal than ごめんなさい or すみません: 申し訳ありません / 申し訳ございません in business. It literally admits there is no excuse.

Remember it 申す (to say, humble) + 訳 (reason) + ない (none) → I have no reason I can say. No excuse.

結婚けっこんが決きまったとは、本当ほんとうにめでたいめでたいことだ。

Your marriage has been decided? That's truly wonderful news.

Usage めでたい describes a joyful occasion worth celebrating: めでたい席 (a festive occasion). It is the source of おめでとう. Sarcastically, おめでたい人 is someone naive or gullible.

Remember it Sometimes written 目出度い, with ateji for 目 (eye) + 出 (come out) + 度 (occasion). It is the root of おめでとう: every time you say congratulations, you are saying めでたい.

幸いさいわい、怪我けがはなかった。

Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Usage 幸い is often used at the start of a sentence to mean 'fortunately': 幸い、けがはなかった. In business letters, 〜いただければ幸いです means 'I would be grateful if you could ...'.

Remember it 幸 (happiness, fortune) → the same kanji as 幸せ. A stroke of good fortune.

海外かいがいに来てきて日本食にほんしょくが恋しくこいしくなった。

Since coming abroad, I've started to miss Japanese food.

Usage 恋しい = to long for something or someone you are away from: 家族が恋しい, 日本食が恋しい. 懐かしい (なつかしい) is fond nostalgia for the past, without the ache of missing.

Remember it 恋 (love, longing) → the kanji of 恋人 (lover). You long for it like a lover.

幼いおさない頃ころ、よく祖父そふと釣りつりに行ったいった。

When I was little, I often went fishing with my grandfather.

Usage 幼い = very young, of early childhood: 幼い頃 (when I was little), 幼い子供. It can also mean childish or immature: 考え方が幼い. 若い (わかい) is young in a general sense.

Remember it 幺 (tiny thread) + 力 (strength) → strength still thin as a thread. Very young.

一人ひとりで見知らぬみしらぬ街まちを歩くのはあるくのは心細いこころぼそい。

Walking alone through an unfamiliar town is unnerving.

Usage 心細い is feeling lonely and uneasy with no one to rely on: 一人で心細い. It carries more worry than 寂しい (lonely) and more helplessness than 不安 (anxious).

Remember it 心 (heart) + 細い (thin) → your heart feels thin and fragile.

仕事しごとを失ったうしなった彼かれのことが気の毒きのどくだ。

I feel sorry for him losing his job.

Usage 気の毒 is sympathy for someone else's misfortune: お気の毒に (I'm so sorry to hear that). Use 残念 for your own disappointment and 惜しい for a near-miss.

Remember it 気 (spirit) + の + 毒 (poison) → something that poisons your spirit to see.

貧しいまずしい生活せいかつの中なかでも夢ゆめを持ち続けたもちつづけた。

Even while living in poverty, he kept holding on to his dreams.

Usage 貧しい = poor, lacking; written and a little literary: 貧しい国, 心が貧しい (poor in spirit). In conversation, 貧乏 (びんぼう) is more common for being broke.

Remember it 分 (to divide) + 貝 (shell, money) → money divided up until little is left.

あと少しあとすこしで合格ごうかくだったのに、惜しいおしいなあ。

I was so close to passing. What a shame!

Usage 惜しい is the frustration of a near-miss or waste: 惜しい! (so close!), もったいない and 惜しい often overlap. The verb 惜しむ means to regret losing or to spare: 努力を惜しまない (spare no effort).

Remember it 忄 (heart) + 昔 (the past) → a heart clinging to what just slipped into the past.

台風たいふうの影響えいきょうで、中止ちゅうしはやむを得ないやむをえない。

Because of the typhoon, cancellation is unavoidable.

Usage やむを得ない = there's no other option, it can't be helped. A formal version of 仕方がない. As an adverb: やむを得ず中止した (we had no choice but to cancel).

Remember it やむ (止む, to stop) + を得ない (can't obtain) → you can't make it stop, so you accept it.

同おなじ質問しつもんを何度なんどもされて、しつこいしつこいと感かんじた。

I was asked the same question over and over and found it tiresome.

Usage しつこい = annoyingly persistent: しつこい勧誘 (pushy sales), しつこい人. For flavors it means heavy and cloying, the opposite of あっさり.

Remember it Hear it as 'shitsu-koi': something that keeps coming back again and again, like a stain that won't wash out.

説明せつめいがくどいくどいので、聞きいている方ほうが疲つかれる。

His explanations are so long-winded that listening wears you out.

Usage くどい is tediously repetitive or overdone: 話がくどい (goes on and on). For taste, too rich. しつこい stresses persistence; くどい stresses repetition.

Remember it Kanji form 諄い: 言 (words) on the left. Words piled up again and again.

キャンプキャンプの焚き火たきびで煙けむくて目めが痛いいたい。

The campfire is so smoky that my eyes hurt.

Usage 煙い = smoky, stinging your eyes and throat. 煙たい (けむたい) means the same and figuratively describes someone you find a bit stifling: 上司を煙たがる.

Remember it 火 (fire) + 垔 (blocked) → the fire's smoke with nowhere to go. 煙 (けむり) = smoke.

工事こうじの音おとで騒々しくそうぞうしくて集中しゅうちゅうできない。

The construction noise is so loud that I can't concentrate.

Usage 騒々しい = noisy and chaotic, clearly negative: 騒々しい教室. 騒がしい is similar; 騒々しい feels stronger and more irritating. The verb is 騒ぐ (to make a racket).

Remember it 騒 (to make noise) doubled with 々 → noise on top of noise.

年末ねんまつは何かとなにかと慌しくあわただしくなる。

The end of the year always gets hectic with one thing and another.

Usage 慌しい (also written 慌ただしい) is busy in a rushed, frantic way: 慌しい朝, 慌しく出かける. 忙しい (いそがしい) just means having a lot to do.

Remember it 忄 (heart) + 荒 (wild, rough) → a heart in a wild rush. The same 慌 as 慌てる (to panic).

彼かれはそそっかしいそそっかしい性格せいかくで、よく財布さいふを忘わすれる。

He's scatterbrained by nature and often forgets his wallet.

Usage そそっかしい is a careless, hasty personality trait: そそっかしい人. うっかり is a single slip of attention; そそっかしい describes someone who is like that all the time.

Remember it Hear そそ as someone 'so-so' rushing about: always in a hurry, always dropping things.

思いがけないおもいがけない場所ばしょで旧友きゅうゆうに会ったあった。

I ran into an old friend in the most unexpected place.

Usage 思いがけない = unexpected, out of the blue, often pleasantly: 思いがけないプレゼント. As an adverb: 思いがけず (unexpectedly). 意外 (いがい) is more about something going against your expectations.

Remember it 思い (thought) + がけない (didn't reach) → something your thoughts never reached.

何気ないなにげない一言ひとことが相手あいてを傷つけるきずつけることがある。

A casual remark can sometimes hurt the other person.

Usage 何気ない = casual, done without any particular intention: 何気ない一言 (an offhand remark). Adverb: 何気なく (casually). 何気に is slang for 'surprisingly'.

Remember it 何 (what) + 気 (intention) + ない (none) → no intention of anything.

今期こんきは初めてはじめて黒字くろじに転換てんかんした。

This term we moved into the black for the first time.

Usage 黒字 = profit, being in the black; its opposite is 赤字 (あかじ, deficit). 黒字になる / 黒字に転換する (turn a profit). The colors come from old bookkeeping ink, just like in English.

Remember it 黒 (black) + 字 (characters) → figures written in black ink. Profit.

政府せいふから補助金ほじょきんを受けてうけて事業じぎょうを拡大したかくだいした。

We received a government subsidy and expanded the business.

Usage 補助金 is a subsidy or grant, usually from the government: 補助金を申請する (apply for a grant), 補助金が出る. 助成金 (じょせいきん) is very similar.

Remember it 補 (to supplement) + 助 (to help) + 金 (money) → money that helps make up the shortfall.

銀行ぎんこうから融資ゆうしを受けてうけて新しん事業じぎょうを始めたはじめた。

I got a loan from the bank and started a new business.

Usage 融資 is financing from an institution: 融資を受ける (receive a loan), 融資する (lend). For personal borrowing from a friend, use 借りる. ローン is the everyday loanword.

Remember it 融 (to melt, circulate) + 資 (funds) → money set flowing to where it is needed.

会社かいしゃは多額たがくの債務さいむを抱えてかかえている。

The company is carrying a large amount of debt.

Usage 債務 is a legal obligation to repay: 債務を抱える, 債務者 (debtor), 債務超過 (liabilities exceeding assets). Its counterpart is 債権 (さいけん, a claim or credit).

Remember it 債 (debt) + 務 (duty) → the duty to repay a debt.

不動産ふどうさんは重要なじゅうような資産しさんの一つひとつだ。

Real estate is one of the most important assets.

Usage 資産 is assets and wealth: 資産運用 (asset management), 資産家 (a wealthy person). 財産 (ざいさん) is property in a personal or legal sense, as in inheritance.

Remember it 資 (resources, funds) + 産 (to produce, property) → resources that produce value.

負債ふさいを返済へんさいするために毎月まいつき節約せつやくしている。

I'm saving every month to pay off my debts.

Usage 負債 is debt, as it appears in accounting: 負債を抱える, 資産と負債 (assets and liabilities). 借金 (しゃっきん) is the everyday word for money you owe.

Remember it 負 (to bear, carry) + 債 (debt) → the debt you carry on your back.

株式かぶしきへの投資とうしはリスクを伴うともなう。

Investing in stocks comes with risk.

Usage 投資する takes に for the target: 株に投資する. 投資家 = investor, 自己投資 = investing in yourself. 投機 (とうき) is speculation, a riskier word.

Remember it 投 (to throw) + 資 (funds) → throwing your funds at something.

株式かぶしき市場しじょうで売買ばいばいをするには知識ちしきが必要ひつようだ。

You need knowledge to buy and sell on the stock market.

Usage 株式 is stock or shares in formal use: 株式市場 (stock market), 株式会社 (a joint-stock company, the 'KK' in company names). In conversation, just 株 (かぶ).

Remember it 株 (tree stump, share) + 式 (form, system) → shares in a company, held in a set form.

金利きんりが低いひくい今いま、住宅ローンじゅうたくローンを組むくむにはいいいい時期じきだ。

With interest rates low right now, it's a good time to take out a mortgage.

Usage 金利 = interest rate: 金利が上がる / 下がる, 低金利 (low interest). 利息 (りそく) is the actual interest money you pay or earn.

Remember it 金 (money) + 利 (profit) → the profit money makes.

円安えんやすで為替かわせレートレートが変動へんどうしている。

The exchange rate is fluctuating because of the weak yen.

Usage 為替 has an irregular reading, かわせ: 為替レート (exchange rate), 外国為替 (foreign exchange). 円安 (えんやす) is a weak yen; 円高 (えんだか) a strong one.

Remember it The kanji are ateji; the word comes from 交わす (to exchange). Money exchanged between currencies.

消費税しょうひぜいの税率ぜいりつが引き上げられたひきあげられた。

The consumption tax rate was raised.

Usage 税率 is the percentage of a tax: 消費税率 (consumption tax rate), 税率を引き上げる (raise the rate). 率 (りつ) means rate, as in 合格率 (pass rate).

Remember it 税 (tax) + 率 (rate) → the tax rate.

納税のうぜいは国民こくみんの義務ぎむの一つひとつだ。

Paying taxes is one of a citizen's duties.

Usage 納税 is paying taxes, a formal word: 納税者 (taxpayer), 納税の義務 (the duty to pay tax), ふるさと納税 (Japan's hometown tax donation scheme).

Remember it 納 (to pay in, deliver) + 税 (tax) → paying in your tax.

金きんの相場そうばが大きくおおきく動いたうごいた。

The price of gold moved sharply.

Usage 相場 is the going market price: 金の相場, 為替相場 (exchange rate). Figuratively, the usual expectation: 相場が決まっている (it's always the case that...).

Remember it 相 (mutual) + 場 (place) → the price both sides settle on in the market place.

銀行ぎんこう振り込みふりこみには手数料てすうりょうがかかる。

Bank transfers come with a fee.

Usage 手数料 is a handling fee or commission: 手数料がかかる, 振込手数料 (transfer fee), 手数料無料 (no fee). Related: お手数ですが = sorry to trouble you, but ...

Remember it 手数 (trouble, effort) + 料 (fee) → a charge for the trouble you put someone to.

節税せつぜいのために確定申告かくていしんこくをきちんときちんとしている。

I file my tax return carefully to save on taxes.

Usage 節税 is legally reducing the tax you pay: 節税対策 (tax-saving measures). Contrast it with 脱税 (だつぜい), tax evasion, which is illegal.

Remember it 節 (to economize, as in 節約) + 税 (tax) → economizing on tax.