Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 割引 | waribiki | [β̞a̠ɾʲibʲikʲi] (narrow) |
| 値引き | nebiki | [ne̞bʲikʲi] (narrow) |
The term 割引 is the most common and general term for a discount in Japanese. It is often used for fixed or systemic price reductions. You may also encounter 特別価格, which translates to 'special price' and is used when something is priced lower than usual. The related verb 割り引く means to deduct from an account, debt, charge and the like.
Which one should you use?
割引 (waribiki) is often used for fixed or systemic discounts, such as student, senior or seasonal discounts. In contrast, 値引き (nebiki) is a term commonly used in everyday conversations, specifically when negotiating a price reduction directly with a seller or for specific price cuts on items.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the noun 値引き (nebiki) into the verb 'to discount' or 'to give a discount', you add the verb する (suru).
How do you pronounce it?
waribiki
Did you know?
- The concept of a 'discount' is sometimes expressed as サービス (sābisu), derived from 'service'. In this context, it refers to something given for free or a price reduction as a favor to the customer.
- The phrase 割引 (waribiki) is often combined with numbers to show the percentage off, such as 3割引き (san-wari-biki), meaning 30% off.
- The verb in 割引く (waribiku) is composed of the kanji for 'to divide' or 'to split' (割) and 'to pull' (引). This creates a mental image of 'pulling apart' a total amount to set a portion aside.
Examples in context
- 学生割引はありますか。Is there a student discount?This sentence is useful for asking about a student discount using 割引.Tatoeba #184226 by tommy_san, translation #1866535 by Spamster
- 値引きしてもらえませんか。Could you give me a discount?This sentence is useful for requesting a discount using 値引き.Tatoeba #127138 by tommy__san, translation #276951 by CK
- どのくらいなら値引きできますか。How much of a discount can you give?This sentence is useful for asking how much of a discount is possible using 値引き.Tatoeba #200426 by bunbuku, translation #37627 by CK
- ちょっと割引してくれませんか?Could you give me a little discount, please?
- すみません、少し値引きしていただけませんか？Excuse me, could you give me a little discount, please?
- この商品にはもう少し大幅な値引きはできますか？Can you offer a bigger discount for this item?
- 20%割引20% off
- 1,000円値引き1,000 yen discount
- 1つ買うともう1つ無料Buy one, get one free
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are shopping for a new coat.
- 結衣 Yuiこのコート、割引になりますか。Kono kōto, waribiki ni narimasu ka.Will this coat be discounted?
- 陽太 Yotaいいえ、これは割引の対象外です。Iie, kore wa waribiki no taishō-gai desu.No, this one is not eligible for a discount.
- 結衣 Yui残念です。他の割引商品はありますか。Zannen desu. Hoka no waribiki shōhin wa arimasu ka.That's too bad. Are there any other discounted items?
- 陽太 Yotaあちらの棚にある服は全部割引ですよ。Achira no tana ni aru fuku wa zenbu waribiki desu yo.All the clothes on that shelf over there are discounted.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “discount” translations and entries 割引, 値引き, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
