硬貨
kōka[ko̞ːka̠]
The English word 'coin' is translated into Japanese as 硬貨 (kōka), 玉 or コイン.
Meaning: (currency) a piece of currency (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 硬貨 | kōka | [ko̞ːka̠] (narrow) |
| 玉 | tama | [ta̠ma̠] (narrow) [ɡʲo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| コイン | koin | [ko̞ĩɴ] (narrow) |
In Japanese, there are different ways to refer to a coin depending on the context and whether you are being formal or colloquial. You can use the technical term for currency, the loanword from English or a suffix attached to a specific denomination.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 硬貨 is a literal translation of 'hard money', where 硬 means hard and 貨 means currency.
Which one should you use?
硬貨 is the formal or technical term used for coins as a category of currency. コイン is the phonetic transcription of the English word 'coin'. 玉 is a colloquial suffix that is often attached to the denomination of a coin to specify the object, such as in the term 百円玉 for a 100-yen coin.
How do you pronounce it?
kōka
Did you know?
- The colloquial term 玉 for a coin literally means 'ball' or 'jewel'. This is because early Japanese currency had a round shape and was viewed as a precious object.
- In Japanese, the word コイン is often used specifically for tokens used in arcade games or laundry machines, whereas 硬貨 is used for official legal tender.
- The word コイン is used in Japanese to describe 'coin parking' コインパーキング, which refers to automated parking lots paid for with change.
Examples in context
- コインを拾ったんだ。I picked up a coin.This sentence is useful for showing how to use コイン.Tatoeba #9089365 by small_snow, translation #4539154 by mailohilohi
- トムはコインを拾った。Tom picked up the coin.This sentence shows the use of コイン in a third-person context.Tatoeba #9089362 by small_snow, translation #3422356 by CK
- 一円玉の原価は３円です。It costs three yen to make a one yen coin.This sentence demonstrates how to use the suffix 玉 with a specific denomination.Tatoeba #9964947 by small_snow, translation #10122502 by tsp_2
- この自動販売機は硬貨（こうか）が使えます。Coins can be used in this vending machine.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are at a vending machine.
- 結衣 Yui硬貨しか使えないみたいだよ。Kōka shika tsukaenai mitai da yo.It looks like it only takes coins.
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。あ、僕に硬貨があるよ。Hontō da. A, boku ni kōka ga aru yo.You're right. Oh, I have some coins.
- 結衣 Yuiよかった！貸してくれる？Yokatta! Kashite kureru?Great! Can you lend them to me?
- 健太 Kentaいいよ。はい、どうぞ。Ii yo. Hai, dōzo.Sure. Here you go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coin” translations and entries 硬貨, 玉, コイン, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
