お金持ち
okanemochi
The English phrase "rich person" is translated into Japanese as お金持ち (okanemochi).
お金持ち is used to describe a person who possesses a large amount of money.
Which one should you use?
While お金持ち is the standard way to refer to a rich person, 金持ち is a more casual version. If you are speaking in a business, professional or journalistic context, you might use 裕福な人 to describe a rich person or 富裕層 to refer specifically to the affluent class or the wealthy elite.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お金持ち is the common, standard term. In casual or informal settings, you may hear 金持ち. For formal or professional settings, such as business or news reporting, 裕福な人 is a more appropriate way to describe a rich person, while 富裕層 is used to denote the wealthy class or affluent layer of society.
How does it change in a sentence?
お金持ち functions as a noun, but it can also be used as a na-adjective to describe someone.
How do you pronounce it?
okanemochi
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, there is a traditional concept called 知足 (chishoku), which teaches that the truly 'rich person' is the one who knows when they have enough.
- While お金持ち refers to wealth, the word for 'rich' in the context of food or flavor is 濃厚 (nōkō), which literally means 'thick' or 'dense'.
- Japanese has a specific term, 成金, for a 'nouveau riche' person who has suddenly become an お金持ち and spends their money ostentatiously.
Examples in context
- トムって、すんごいお金持ちなんだよ。Tom is a very rich person.This sentence uses お金持ち to express that someone is a very rich person.Tatoeba #10125569 by small_snow, translation #1395121 by Spamster
- お金持ちになりたいです。I want to become a rich person.This sentence uses お金持ち to express a desire to become a rich person.Tatoeba #9702631 by Leeloobastet, translation #9703323 by sebCurti
- あのお金持ちの人は、とても親切です。Ano okanemochi no hito wa, totemo shinsetsu desu.That rich person is very kind.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a successful entrepreneur they saw on TV.
- 結衣 Yuiあの社長はお金持ちだね。Ano shachou wa okanemochi da ne.That company president is rich, isn't he?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、すごい成功しているよ。Un, sugoi seikou shite iru yo.Yeah, he is very successful.
- 結衣 Yui大翔君も、あんな風になりたい？Hiroto-kun mo, anna fuu ni naritai?Hiroto, do you want to become like that too?
- 大翔 Hirotoもちろん、憧れるよ。Mochiron, akogaru yo.Of course, I admire him.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
