"Money can't buy happiness" said someone who has never been to Japan. Did you know, money can buy ramen. Is that not the same thing?

Today, let’s break down the Japanese word for money,「お金」(おかね). What does it mean? How can it be used? And what should we avoid confusing it with?

Quite simply, お金 (おかね) means 'money' in a general sense, much like it does in English. It’s a very common word in any language, which is why it’s essential for the JLPT N5.

私は　お金が　ありません。

I have no money.

The prefix お is an honorific. In Japanese, honorifics are often used to show politeness or respect. By adding お, the word becomes more polite and respectful. Without it, the word would simply be 金 (かね).

金 (かね) without the honorific has the same meaning—money—but it is very casual or even rough. Its use is typically limited to informal speech among close friends, where it is common in colloquial phrases or slang. Especially when speaking quickly or joking around.

「かねが　ない！」

"I'm broke!"

お金が　ありますか？

Do you have money?

お金を　借(か)りました。

I borrowed money.

お金を　返(かえ)しました。

I returned the money.

「金銭(きんせん)」(kinsen) is a JLPT N3 word that has the same meaning as お金 and can be used interchangeably. However, it is a much more formal literary expression that is not often used in everyday conversation. You are most likely to encounter this word in the news or other formal contexts.

「現金(げんきん)」(genkin) is a JLPT N3 word that specifically means cash—physical money like notes and coins. If you’re talking about paying in cash instead of by card, you would use 「現金」.

The kanji 「金」 is also used in other common words, such as:

• 金曜日 (きんようび) (kinyoubi) - Friday (learn more here)
• 金色 (きんいろ) (kiniro) - Gold color

By remembering the connection between gold and value, you can hopefully better retain the meaning of 金 (money and wealth)!