高利貸し
kōrigashi
The Japanese word for usury is 高利貸し (kōrigashi).
The term refers to the practice of lending money at illegal or unfair rates. It can also be used to refer to the person performing the action, known as a loan shark.
Meaning: practice of lending money at illegal or unfair rates (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 高 (high), 利 (interest) and 貸し (lending).
How do you pronounce it?
kōrigashi
Did you know?
- While 高利貸し describes the act of usury, Japanese has the word 借金地獄 (shakkin jigoku), which literally translates to 'debt hell'. This term is used commonly in daily life to describe the psychological state of someone trapped by a usurer.
- While 高利貸し is the formal term for usury, a Japanese person might instead use the much more visceral 闇金 (yamikin), which literally translates to 'dark money' to describe illegal loan sharks.
- The concept of the 'loan shark' is a recurring trope in Japanese 'Noir' cinema and 'Yakuza' films, where 高利貸し is used as a primary plot device to trap characters in inescapable debt spirals.
Examples in context
- 高利貸しは犯罪です。Kourigashi wa hanzai desu.Usury is a crime.
- あの高利貸しに注意してください。Ano kourigashi ni chuui shite kudasai.Please watch out for that usurer.
- 高利貸しの被害に遭った。Kourigashi no higai ni atta.I became a victim of usury.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are discussing a news report about a shady loan company.
- 美咲 Misaki最近、高利貸しのニュースをよく見ますね。Saikin, kourigashi no nyuusu o yoku mimasu ne.I see news about usury quite often lately.
- 健太 Kenta本当に怖い話ですよね。Hontou ni kowai hanashi desu yo ne.It really is a scary story, isn't it?
- 美咲 Misaki健太さんは、あれをどう思いますか？Kenta-san wa, are o dou omoimasu ka?Kenta, what do you think about that?
- 健太 Kenta絶対に手を出してはいけないと思います。Zettai ni te o dashite wa ikenai to omoimasu.I think one should never get involved with them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “usury” translations and entries 高利貸し, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
