目減り

• Reading: めべり
• Romaji: meberi
• Kanji breakdown: 目 (me) — measure, amount; 減り (beri) — reduction, decrease
• Pronunciation: /mebeɾi/

Meaning

Shrinkage; depreciation; measurable loss of value, quantity, or volume.

A compound noun using 目 (measure, amount) and 減り (reduction). Refers to the gradual or measurable decline in quantity, value, or weight of something — particularly currency, financial assets, or physical goods. 円安による目減り (depreciation due to a weak yen) is a common financial usage, and the term also applies to physical shrinkage of stored goods.

Examples

1. インフレで貯蓄が目減りするリスクを無視できない。 The risk of savings shrinking due to inflation cannot be ignored.
2. 円安の影響で海外資産の価値が大幅に目減りした。 The value of overseas assets depreciated significantly due to the weak yen.
3. 長期保存中に商品が目減りしないよう真空パックで管理している。 Products are stored in vacuum packs to prevent shrinkage during long-term storage.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, economics, storage, investments

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 目 (measure, quantity — as in 目方, weight by measure) and 減り (reduction, from 減る — to decrease). The 目 here refers to a measurable amount, so 目減り literally means a measurable decrease.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Business