会計士
kaikeishi[ka̠ike̞ːɕi]
The Japanese word for accountant is 会計士 (kaikeishi).
The term 会計士 refers to a professional whose work involves organizing, maintaining and auditing financial records, specifically a certified public accountant (CPA) or a chartered accountant.
Meaning: one whose profession includes organizing, maintaining and auditing the records of another (noun)
Which one should you use?
If you need to be even more specific, the term for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is 公認会計士 (kōnin kaikeishi).
How do you pronounce it?
kaikeishi
Did you know?
- While 会計士 refers to the professional, the word 会計 is also used colloquially to mean the bill or the act of paying at a restaurant.
- The character 士 used in 会計士 originally depicted a scholar or a warrior of the samurai class.
- In Japanese business culture, an accountant may be referred to as 税理士 (zeirishi) if their primary role is tax law, which is a distinct legal qualification from a 会計士.
Examples in context
- 文書を訳すのに、フランス語を母国語としない人に頼むのは、会計士に家を建てるように頼むようなものだよ。Asking a non-native French speaker to translate a document into French is like asking an accountant to build you a house.This sentence uses 会計士 to create a comparison about professional expertise.Tatoeba #8983465 by small_snow, translation #8424327 by CK
- 彼女は会計士の資格を持っている。She is certified as an accountant.This sentence uses 会計士 to describe someone's professional certification.
- Watashitachi no kaisha wa, kaikeishi no kyōryoku o motomete imasu. (私たちの会社は、会計士の協力を求めています。)Our company is seeking the assistance of an accountant.
- 彼は有名な会計士です。Kare wa yuumeina kaikeishi desu.He is a famous accountant.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui is asking Yota about his new job.
- 結衣 Yui陽太さんの新しい仕事は何ですか？Youta-san no atarashii shigoto wa nan desu ka?What is your new job, Yota?
- 陽太 Yota会計士として働くことになりました。Kaikeishi to shite hataraku koto ni narimashita.I will be working as an accountant.
- 結衣 Yuiそれはすごいですね！Sore wa sugoi desu ne!That is amazing!
- 陽太 Yotaありがとうございます。頑張ります。Arigatou gozaimasu. Ganbarimasu.Thank you. I will do my best.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “accountant” translations and entries 会計士, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
