電子決済

• Reading: でんしけっさい
• Romaji: denshi kessai
• Kanji breakdown: 電 (electricity) + 子 (child/small) → 電子 (electronic/digital); 決 (decide/settle) + 済 (finish/pay) → 決済 (payment/settlement)
• Pronunciation: /de.n.shi.ke.s.sa.i/

Meaning

Digital payment — paying with a smartphone app or IC card instead of cash.

電子決済 (でんしけっさい) is the general term for cashless digital payment in Japan, covering QR code payments (PayPay, LINE Pay, d払い), IC card payments (Suica, PASMO), and contactless credit card payments. As Japan accelerated its move toward a cashless society from around 2019, this term became a staple of everyday conversation. Convenience stores, taxis, and even small restaurants now commonly display 電子決済対応 (digital payment accepted) signs.

Examples

1. 最近は電子決済ばかりで財布を出さなくなった。 Lately I only use digital payment and never take out my wallet anymore.
2. このお店、電子決済使えますか？ Does this shop accept digital payment?
3. 電子決済でポイントも貯まるから現金より得だよ。 You earn points with digital payment, so it's a better deal than cash.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, restaurants, everyday conversation, news

Tone: practical, neutral

Do Say

• 電子決済に対応してますか？ (Do you accept digital payment?)
• 電子決済だとキャッシュバックがあるから使ってる。 (I use digital payment because there's cashback.)

Don't Say

• 「電子マネー」と「電子決済」は似ているが違う — 電子マネーはSuicaなどの専用残高、電子決済はより広い概念 (「電子マネー」 and 「電子決済」 are similar but distinct — electronic money refers to stored-value cards like Suica; digital payment is the broader category)

Common Mistakes

• Mixing up 電子決済 (digital payment) with 電子マネー (electronic money/stored value) — 電子決済 is the broader umbrella term
• Assuming everywhere accepts digital payment — some smaller traditional shops in Japan are still cash-only

Origin & History

The compound 電子 (electronic/digital) + 決済 (payment/settlement) has existed in formal financial and IT contexts since the 1990s. It entered everyday colloquial use around 2018–2019 when the Japanese government began pushing cashless payment initiatives and services like PayPay launched massive campaigns.

Cultural Context

Era: 2018–2019 cashless push onwards

Generation: All ages, especially 20s–40s

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Urban areas have very high digital payment adoption; some rural or traditional establishments may still prefer cash.