Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 請求書 | seikyūsho | [se̞ːkʲɨːɕo̞] (narrow) |
| 料金 勘定 | ryōkin | [ɾʲo̞ːkʲĩɴ kã̠ɲ̟d͡ʑo̞ː] (word by word, narrow) |
| 送り状 | okurijō | [o̞kɯ̟ɾʲiʑo̞ː] (narrow) |
The term 請求書 is the standard word for a formal invoice, frequently used in business-to-business (B2B) transactions to request payment. If you are referring more generally to the actual amount of a fee or a charge, you would use 料金 勘定. For shipping documents like a waybill or a shipping invoice used for tracking goods, use 送り状. Additionally, the katakana word ビル is a homophone for the English name 'Bill', but in Japanese, it also means 'building'.
Which one should you use?
Use 請求書 for a formal invoice or a bill intended for payment. In contrast, 料金 勘定 refers more generally to the 'fee' or 'charge' itself. Furthermore, while 請求書 is a bill for payment, 送り状 is a shipping invoice or waybill used specifically for tracking goods.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
seikyūsho
When do people say it?
When dining or paying in a group, you can use the phrase 別々でお願いします to request separate bills.
Did you know?
- While English uses 'bill' for both a request for payment and a legislative proposal, Japanese uses 請求書 for the former and 法案 for the latter.
- The word 請求書 was first recorded in 1890, coinciding with the rapid modernization of Japan's business systems during the Meiji era.
- In casual settings, instead of using the formal 請求書, people often use the loanword チェック from the English 'check' to ask for the bill.
Examples in context
- 請求書を合計してください。Please add up the bill.This sentence shows how to use 請求書 when asking to add up an invoice.Tatoeba #1250672 by bunbuku, translation #21099 by CK
- 小包と一緒に請求書が送られてきた。A bill came along with the package.This sentence demonstrates how 請求書 can arrive with a package.Tatoeba #146885 by KK_kaku_, translation #267676 by CM
- ご請求書の発行をご要望の場合If you wish to be issued a billThis sentence uses 請求書 in the context of requesting that a bill be issued.
- お勘定お願いしますCould I have the bill, please?
- 別々でお願いします。Separate bills, please.
Example conversation
A woman is asking a man about a business document at home.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔さん、この請求書はいつ払えばいいですか？Hiroto-san, kono seikyusho wa itsu haraeba ii desu ka?Hiroto, when should I pay this bill?
- 大翔 Hiroto来月末までに支払う必要があります。Raigetsumatsu made ni shiharau hitsuyo ga arimasu.It needs to be paid by the end of next month.
- 陽葵 Himari分かりました。確認しておきますね。Wakarimashita. Kakunin shite okimasu ne.I understand. I will check it.
- 大翔 Hirotoお願いします。忘れないようにね。Onegaishimasu. Wasurenai yo ni ne.Please do. Don't forget it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bill” translations and entries 請求書, 送り状, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (料金, 勘定) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 勘定, 請求書, 送り状, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
