How to Say "Tariff" in Japanese

関税

kanzei[kã̠nd͡ze̞ː]

The English word "tariff" is translated into Japanese as 関税 (kanzei).

関税 is a noun meaning duties imposed. When you want to say "to impose a tariff" in a standard way, use the phrase 関税を課す (kanzei o kasu).

Meaning: duties imposed (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the characters 関 (barrier/gate) and 税 (tax).

kanzei

While 関税 (kanzei) refers specifically to customs duties, the word 関 (kan) is also found in the word 関心 (kanshin), which means 'interest' or 'concern'.
The character 関 also appears in the word 関係 (kankei), meaning 'relationship', as both concepts share the idea of a connection or a link between two points.
While 関税 refers to official government duties, Japanese uses the word 関所 (sekisho) to describe the historical toll booths where these fees were once extracted.

関税の引き下げ政策は貿易の促進に役立ちます。
The policy of lowering tariffs contributes to the facilitation of trade.
この商品の輸入税は他の商品よりも高いです。
The import tariff on this product is higher compared to other goods.
この製品には高い関税がかかる。
Kono seihin ni wa takai kanzei ga kakaru.
A high tariff is imposed on this product.
新しい関税のルールが決まりました。
Atarashii kanzei no rūru ga kimarimashita.
The new tariff rules have been decided.
関税の影響で輸入品の価格が上がった。
Kanzei no eikyō de yunyūhin no kakaku ga agatta.
The price of imports rose due to the tariff.

A man and a woman are discussing international trade news at a cafe.

大翔 Hiroto

最近、関税の話でニュースが持ちきりだね。
Saikin, kanzei no hanashi de nyūsu ga mochikiri da ne.
The news is full of talk about tariffs lately.
陽葵 Himari

はい、輸入品の値段が変わるかもしれません。
Hai, yunyūhin no nedan ga kawaru kamoshiremasen.
Yes, the prices of imported goods might change.
大翔 Hiroto

陽葵さんは、この関税についてどう思う？
Himari-san wa, kono kanzei ni tsuite dō omou?
Himari, what do you think about this tariff?
陽葵 Himari

とても複雑な問題だと思います。
Totemo fukuzatsu na mondai da to omoimasu.
I think it is a very complex issue.

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