賃上げ

• Reading: ちんあげ
• Romaji: chin'age
• Kanji breakdown: 賃 (chin) — wages, fee, rent; 上 (a) — up, raise, increase
• Pronunciation: /tɕiɴ.a.ge/

Meaning

Pay raise; wage increase. A rise in the wages or salaries paid to workers.

A central concept in Japanese labour relations, particularly in the annual spring wage negotiations (春闘, shunto). 賃上げ率 (wage increase rate) is closely watched by government and markets as an indicator of economic health and inflation expectations. The Kishida and Ishiba administrations made 賃上げ a cornerstone of economic policy. The opposite is 賃下げ (chinsage). Also used as a verbal noun (賃上げする/賃上げを実施する).

Examples

1. 政府の要請を受け、大手企業が相次いで賃上げを実施することを表明した。 At the government's request, major companies announced one after another that they would implement pay raises.
2. 賃上げの恩恵が中小企業の従業員にまで届くかどうかが今後の課題だ。 Whether the benefits of pay raises will reach employees at small and medium-sized businesses is a challenge going forward.
3. 物価上昇に追いつく賃上げが実現しなければ、実質賃金の目減りが続く。 If pay raises that keep pace with price increases are not realised, the erosion of real wages will continue.

Usage Guide

Context: labour, economics, business, policy

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Compound of 賃 (chin, wages/fee) and 上げ (age, raising/increasing). A transparent formation: raising (上げ) one's wages (賃). The kanji 賃 itself combines 任 (duty/responsibility) and 貝 (money/shell currency), conveying the idea of compensation for work undertaken.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal