円安

• Reading: えんやす
• Romaji: enyasu
• Kanji breakdown: 円 (en/maru) — yen, circle; 安 (an/yasu) — cheap, low, inexpensive
• Pronunciation: /eɴ.ja.sɯ/

Meaning

Weak yen; yen depreciation. A situation where the Japanese yen falls in value relative to other currencies.

A compound noun from 円 (en — yen) and 安 (yasu — cheap, low). 円安 benefits Japanese exporters by making their products more competitively priced overseas, but raises import costs and domestic prices for foreign goods and energy. The sharp yen weakening from 2022 onwards made 円安 a topic of intense public concern in Japan. The direct antonym of 円高.

Examples

1. 急速な円安で輸入物価が上昇し、家計への負担が増している。 The rapid depreciation of the yen has driven up import prices, increasing the burden on households.
2. 円安を追い風に、自動車メーカーの輸出収益が拡大した。 Riding the tailwind of a weak yen, export revenues for automakers have expanded.
3. 円安局面では、外貨建て資産の円換算価値が高まる。 In a weak-yen environment, the yen-denominated value of foreign-currency assets rises.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, news, finance, trade

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 円 (en — yen) and 安 (yasu — cheap, low, inexpensive). Literally meaning the yen is cheap in value — the direct antonym of 円高.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal