払う
harau[ha̠ɾa̠ɯ̟]
To pay in Japanese is 払う (harau).
The verb is used to describe the act of giving money to someone in exchange for a product or service. It is specifically used for paying costs or money.
Which one should you use?
While 払う is the standard term for paying money, it should not be used for figurative expressions such as 'paying attention' (which uses 注意する) or 'paying respects' (which uses 敬意を表す).
How does it change in a sentence?
In plain speech, the negative form of 払う is 払わない.
How do you pronounce it?
harau
Did you know?
- The verb 払う is also used to describe the act of brushing away dust or sweeping something aside with one's hand.
- In Shinto rituals, priests use a special wand called an oharae to 払う or sweep away impurities and sins from a person.
- The kanji in 払う contains the radical for 'shell', which in ancient times was used as a form of currency.
Examples in context
- 私が払う番？Is it my turn to pay?This sentence is useful for asking if it is your turn to use 払う.Tatoeba #10654883 by small_snow, translation #3411015 by CK
- 君が払う番だよ。It's your turn to pay.This sentence is useful for telling someone it is their turn to use 払う.Tatoeba #8733011 by small_snow, translation #6532167 by CK
- あなたが払うつもり？Are you going to pay?This sentence is useful for asking if someone intends to use 払う.Tatoeba #8694662 by small_snow, translation #2195041 by Hybrid
- お支払いは現金でお願いします。Please pay in cash.
- レジでお支払いを致します。I will pay at the cash register.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a cafe, deciding who pays the bill.
- 陽葵 Himariコーヒー代、私が払うね。Kōhīdai, watashi ga harau ne.I will pay for the coffee.
- 蓮 Renいいよ、ありがとう。Ii yo, arigatō.That's fine, thank you.
- 陽葵 Himari次は蓮くんが払ってね。Tsugi wa Ren-kun ga haratte ne.You pay next time, Ren.
- 蓮 Renわかった、約束するよ。Wakatta, yakusoku suru yo.Got it, I promise.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 払う, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 払う, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
