歳出

• Reading: さいしゅつ
• Romaji: saishutsu
• Kanji breakdown: 歳 (sai) — year, fiscal year, age; 出 (shutsu) — outflow, expenditure, exit
• Pronunciation: /sai.ɕɯ.tsɯ/

Meaning

Annual government expenditure; the total spending of a national or local government in a fiscal year.

A formal fiscal term used exclusively in public budget contexts, referring to all outflows of public funds in a given fiscal year. Paired with its counterpart 歳入 (annual revenue). Appears frequently in budget speeches, policy debates, and fiscal reports. Specific to public finance; private companies use 支出 or 費用 for their expenses.

Examples

1. 今年度の国の歳出は過去最大規模となる見通しだ。 This fiscal year's national expenditure is expected to reach a record high.
2. 社会保障費の増大が歳出を膨らませる最大の要因となっている。 The growing cost of social security has become the primary factor driving up government expenditure.
3. 歳出削減のために、補助金の見直しや行政の効率化が議論されている。 To reduce expenditure, reviews of subsidies and improvements in administrative efficiency are being discussed.

Usage Guide

Context: public finance, government budget, fiscal policy, economics

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 歳 (sai, fiscal year/age) and 出 (shutsu, outflow/expenditure). The character 歳 here refers to the fiscal year, making 歳出 the annual outgoing funds of the state.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji onward

Generation: Adults

Social background: Political/Financial