9.6 Japanese Currency and Shopping

Exercise 1

This resource created by Shiro Neko Japanese will guide you through a systematic approach to counting large numbers:

お会計（かいけい） （okaikei: bill, check）

In Japanese, お (o) is an honorific prefix that adds politeness and respect, making it a more formal way to refer to a bill or check. It is commonly used in restaurants, shops and other service settings when requesting to pay.

The honorific prefix お is often attached to nouns and some verbs to make them more polite and respectful, especially in customer service and formal interactions.

レシート（れしいと: reshiito: receipt）

In Japan, a レシート is issued at the point of sale to confirm a purchase, detailing the item(s) bought, price(s), and other transaction information.

領収書 （りょうしゅうしょ: ryoushuu-sho: receipt, invoice）

Unlike a レシート, a 領収書 serves as proof of payment after completing a transaction, documenting what was purchased, the payment method, and sometimes tax details.

お支払（しはら）い （oshiharai: payment）

Similar to お釣り, the honorific prefix お in お支払い adds politeness and respect. It is commonly used in formal or customer-service settings when referring to payments.

レジ（れじ: reji: checkout counter）

レジ is a Japanese word derived from the English term register. It refers to the checkout counter or cash register in a store where customers pay for their purchases.

クレジットカード（くれじっとかあど: kurejitto kaado: credit card）

In Japan, クレジットカード are widely accepted in major cities, department stores, and chain restaurants. However, cash is still the preferred payment method in smaller shops, rural areas, and traditional markets. Some businesses may also have a minimum spending requirement for card payments.

キャッシュ（きゃっしゅ: kyasshu: cash）

The term キャッシュ is derived from English and refers to cash (physical money) in Japanese. Although credit cards and digital payments are becoming more common, carrying cash is still essential in Japan, especially for small purchases, local eateries, and transportation.

現金（げんきん: genkin: cash）

In everyday contexts like shopping, キャッシュ, derived from the English word ‘cash’, and 現金 are often used interchangeably in Japanese. They both refer to money, whether in physical form like bills and coins or in digital transactions.

お釣（つ）り（otsuri: change）

The term お釣り consists of お as the honorific prefix and 釣り (tsuri), which means ‘change’ in this context. Together, お釣り conveys the respectful term for the change given back in a transaction, emphasising politeness and courtesy.