お金

• 読み: おかね
• ローマ字: okane
• 漢字の分解: 金 (kin/kane) — gold, metal, money
• 発音: /o.ka.ne/

意味

Money. The standard polite word for money in everyday Japanese.

The お prefix is an honorific that is always attached; 金 alone (かね) sounds blunt or rough. This is one of the first words N5 learners encounter for discussing prices, shopping, and daily transactions. Used in many common expressions like お金がある (to have money) and お金を払う (to pay money).

例文

1. お金が足りません。
2. 財布にお金を入れました。
3. お金を使いすぎました。

使い方ガイド

場面: shopping, daily life, banking

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

Compound of the honorific prefix お (o) + 金 (kane, metal/gold). Historically, 金 referred to gold and other metals used as currency. The honorific お became permanently attached due to the cultural sensitivity around discussing money directly.

文化的背景

時代: Ancient

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal