不渡り

• Reading: ふわたり
• Romaji: fuwatari
• Kanji breakdown: 不 (fu) — not, failure; 渡 (to/wata) — cross, pass over
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.wa.ta.ɾi/

Meaning

Dishonoured cheque or bill; default on a payment instrument; a payment that fails to clear.

Refers specifically to a promissory note or cheque that is presented for payment but cannot be honoured, typically due to insufficient funds. Under Japanese banking practice, a company that issues two dishonoured instruments within six months is subject to a two-year banking transaction ban (取引停止処分) — effectively a signal of bankruptcy. A serious event with severe commercial consequences.

Examples

1. 取引先が不渡りを出したという知らせが届いた。 News arrived that a business partner had issued a dishonoured bill.
2. 手形の不渡りが続き、会社は事実上の倒産状態となった。 A series of dishonoured bills left the company effectively bankrupt.
3. 不渡りを防ぐために手形決済から振込決済に移行した。 The company switched from bill settlement to bank transfer to avoid the risk of dishonour.

Usage Guide

Context: banking, finance, business, insolvency

Tone: formal

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (not, failure) and 渡り (the act of crossing or passing; from 渡る). Literally 'not passing through' — a payment that fails to clear the banking system.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Business professionals

Social background: Corporate/Finance