費用対効果

• Reading: ひようたいこうか
• Romaji: hiyōtaikōka
• Kanji breakdown: 費用 (hiyō) — cost, expense; 対 (tai) — versus, ratio; 効果 (kōka) — effect, benefit
• Pronunciation: /çi.joː.ta.i.koː.ka/

Meaning

Cost-effectiveness; cost-benefit ratio. The measure of the benefits gained relative to the costs incurred.

A compound noun equivalent to the English 'cost-effectiveness' or 'return on investment.' 費用対効果が高い means highly cost-effective; 費用対効果が低い means poor value. Widely used in business planning, public policy evaluation, healthcare economics, and IT investment decisions. Often paired with 費用対効果を検討する (to assess cost-effectiveness) or 費用対効果を高める (to improve efficiency).

Examples

1. この広告キャンペーンは費用対効果が非常に高かった。 This advertising campaign proved to be highly cost-effective.
2. 新システム導入の費用対効果を慎重に分析する必要がある。 The cost-effectiveness of introducing the new system needs to be carefully analysed.
3. 医療の現場でも費用対効果を重視した治療選択が求められる。 Healthcare settings are increasingly required to make treatment choices based on cost-effectiveness.

Usage Guide

Context: business, economics, healthcare, public policy

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A modern compound: 費用 (cost, expense) + 対 (versus, ratio) + 効果 (effect, benefit). The structure literally means 'cost versus effect,' reflecting the cost-benefit comparison it represents.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Business professionals

Social background: Corporate/Government