含み損

• Reading: ふくみぞん
• Romaji: fukumizon
• Kanji breakdown: 含 (gan/fuku) — contain, include; 損 (son) — loss, damage
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.kɯ.mi.zo.ɴ/

Meaning

Unrealised loss; paper loss. The decrease in value of a held asset that has not yet been sold to crystallise the loss.

The opposite of 含み益, referring to a loss that exists on paper because the current market value of a held asset is below its purchase price. For example, a stock bought for ¥100 now worth ¥60 carries ¥40 in 含み損. Investors face the psychological challenge of deciding whether to hold and wait for recovery or cut losses (損切り). A key concept in investment psychology and risk management.

Examples

1. 株価下落で多くの投資家が含み損を抱えることになった。 Many investors found themselves sitting on unrealised losses as share prices fell.
2. 含み損が膨らんでも損切りできない投資家は多い。 Many investors cannot bring themselves to cut losses even as their paper losses mount.
3. 為替の急変動によってドル建て資産に含み損が生じた。 Sharp currency swings produced unrealised losses on dollar-denominated assets.

Usage Guide

Context: investment, finance, accounting, stock market

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 含み (latent, implicit; from 含む 'to contain, to hold within') and 損 (loss, damage). Paired with 含み益 as the standard two-term set for unrealised investment positions.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Investors

Social background: Finance