税金
zeikin[d͡ze̞ːkʲĩɴ]
The English word tax is translated into Japanese as 税金 (zeikin). Wiktionary also lists 税 (zei) and 租税 (sozei).
Meaning: money paid to the government (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 税金 | zeikin | [d͡ze̞ːkʲĩɴ] (narrow) |
| 税 | zei | [d͡ze̞ː] (narrow) [t͡ɕika̠ɾa̠] (narrow) |
| 租税 | sozei | [so̞ze̞ː] (narrow) |
The term refers to money paid to the government.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 税金 is a compound of 税, meaning tax and 金, meaning money.
Which one should you use?
税金 is the standard, everyday term for tax used in general contexts and conversation. 税 is a more formal way to refer to tax, while 租税 is a formal, technical or legal term for taxation typically found in academic or official government documents.
How does it change in a sentence?
The single kanji 税 often functions as a suffix in compound words to denote specific types of taxes, such as 消費税 (consumption tax).
How do you pronounce it?
zeikin
Did you know?
- In Japan, the consumption tax 消費税 is often displayed as 'tax excluded' 税抜 on price tags, meaning the final price at the register will be higher than the tag says.
- The kanji for tax, 税, has an unexpected ancestor in the character for 'strength' or 'power', written as 力.
- The word 金 in 税金 literally means 'gold' or 'metal', reflecting an era when precious metals were the primary standard for wealth and payment.
Examples in context
- この額は税込みです。This amount includes tax.This sentence is useful for expressing that an amount includes 税.Tatoeba #222592 by small_snow, translation #59922 by CK
- 税務署は控除を認めた。The tax agent allowed the deduction.This sentence is useful for discussing the actions of a tax agent regarding 税.Tatoeba #142475 by small_snow, translation #272095 by AlanF_US
- 価格は消費税込みです。The price includes the consumption tax.This sentence is useful for noting that a price includes the consumption tax, specifically using the form 税.Tatoeba #11064165 by bunbuku, translation #276957 by CK
- 税金を支払うようにお願いします。Please pay the tax.
- 来年の税の改革について話しましょう。Let's talk about tax reforms for next year.
- 今年の税金、めっちゃ高いんだよ。This year's tax is so expensive, you know.
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Yota are talking about their monthly salaries.
- 陽葵 Himari今月は税金が高かったね。Kongetsu wa zeikin ga takakatta ne.The taxes were high this month, weren't they?
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。手取りが少ないよ。Hontō da ne. Tedori ga sukunai yo.You're right. My take-home pay is low.
- 陽葵 Himari税金の仕組みは難しいなあ。Zeikin no shikumi wa muzukashii nā.The tax system is so complicated.
- 陽太 Yota誰かに相談してみようか。Dareka ni sōdan shite miyō ka.Shall we try talking to someone about it?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tax” translations and entries 税金, 税, 租税, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 税, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
