Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 払い戻す | haraimodosu | [ha̠ɾa̠imo̞do̞sɨ] (narrow) |
| 返金する | henkin suru |
Both verbs mean to return money to someone, but they are used in different contexts. Use 払い戻す when discussing the formal process of a refund, such as with a ticket or a deposit. Use 返金する when focusing specifically on the act of returning the actual cash or funds. For the concept of 'refund conditions', you can use the term 返金条件.
Which one should you use?
While both terms mean to refund, 払い戻す is more commonly used for the formal process of a refund, such as for a ticket or a deposit, whereas 返金する specifically focuses on the act of returning the actual cash or funds.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form 返金 can be used directly in sentences like 返金をお願いします to mean 'Please give me a refund.' To say you 'received a refund' as the customer, you use the phrase 返金を受ける.
How do you pronounce it?
haraimodosu
Did you know?
- In very formal business contexts, a refund may be referred to as 還付 'kanpu', a specialized term used primarily for tax refunds.
- When requesting a refund in a store, Japanese speakers often use the phrase 返品 'return of goods' first, as a refund is usually the result of a physical return.
- When requesting a refund at a shop, using the more direct 返金してください can sometimes sound slightly demanding or blunt. Adding a polite particle or using a softer verb form is often necessary to maintain social harmony.
Examples in context
- この製品の返金をお願いします。Please give me a refund for this product.
- チケット代を払い戻す。Chiketto dai o haraimodosu.I will refund the ticket fee.
Example conversation
Ren is asking Yui about a canceled trip.
- 蓮 Ren旅行がキャンセルになったよ。Ryokō ga kyanseru ni natta yo.The trip was canceled.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、ホテル代は払い戻すの？Jaa, hoteru dai wa haraimodosu no?Then, will they refund the hotel cost?
- 蓮 Renうん、全部払い戻すって言っていたよ。Un, zenbu haraimodosu tte itte ita yo.Yeah, they said they would refund everything.
- 結衣 Yuiそれはよかったね、蓮。Sore wa yokatta ne, Ren.That's good to hear, Ren.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “refund” translations and entries 払い戻す, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
