プライスレス

• Reading: プライスレス
• Romaji: puraisu resu
• Kanji breakdown: From English 'priceless' (price + -less) → katakana loanword プライスレス
• Pronunciation: /pu.ɾa.i.su.ɾe.su/

Meaning

Priceless; something whose value transcends money — an experience or feeling that can't be bought.

プライスレス entered mainstream Japanese through Mastercard's iconic advertising campaign ('お金で買えない価値がある — priceless'). It's now used independently to describe irreplaceable experiences, moments, and relationships. Japanese speakers use it sincerely for touching moments ('子どもの笑顔はプライスレス') and humorously for absurd situations. It's a distinctly modern loanword that fills a gap Japanese didn't have a single catchy word for.

Examples

1. 推しに手を振ってもらえた瞬間はプライスレスだった。 The moment my favorite idol waved at me was absolutely priceless.
2. 家族と過ごすお正月はプライスレスだよね。 Spending New Year's with family is priceless, isn't it?
3. 旅先で偶然見つけた景色がプライスレスすぎて写真じゃ伝わらない。 The scenery I stumbled upon while traveling was so priceless that photos can't do it justice.

Usage Guide

Context: social media, daily conversation, friends

Tone: sentimental, emphatic

Do Say

• この体験はプライスレスだわ。 (This experience is truly priceless.)
• 友達との時間はプライスレスだから、お金より大事。 (Time with friends is priceless — more important than money.)

Don't Say

• 値段交渉の場で「プライスレスです」は通じない — 冗談として言うなら状況を選ぶ (Using 'priceless' during price negotiation doesn't work — if joking, pick your audience)

Common Mistakes

• Overusing プライスレス for trivial things — it loses impact. Reserve it for genuinely meaningful or humorous moments

Origin & History

From English 'priceless,' popularized in Japan by Mastercard's global advertising campaign (「お金で買えない価値がある」). The campaign ran from the late 1990s and the word became part of everyday Japanese vocabulary by the 2000s.

Cultural Context

Era: Late 1990s-2000s via Mastercard campaign

Generation: 20s-50s

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Most people associate it with the Mastercard ad. It's used both sincerely and humorously in casual conversation.