運転資金

• Reading: うんてんしきん
• Romaji: unten shikin
• Kanji breakdown: 運 (un/hako) — carry, operate; 転 (ten) — turn, revolve; 資 (shi) — capital, resources; 金 (kin/kane) — money
• Pronunciation: /ɯɴ.teɴ.ɕi.kiɴ/

Meaning

Working capital; operating funds; the money available to cover day-to-day business operations such as payroll, inventory, and short-term obligations.

A compound noun referring to the liquid capital needed to keep a business running. Financially calculated as current assets minus current liabilities. A shortage of 運転資金 can cause a technically profitable business to collapse due to cash-flow problems — a phenomenon known as 黒字倒産 (profitable insolvency). Banks commonly lend 運転資金融資 (working capital loans) to bridge short-term gaps.

Examples

1. 売上が増えても運転資金が不足すると黒字倒産のリスクがある。 Even if sales increase, there is a risk of profitable insolvency if working capital is insufficient.
2. 銀行から運転資金の融資を受けて資金繰りを安定させた。 We secured a working capital loan from the bank to stabilise our cash flow.
3. 事業拡大に伴い、運転資金の必要額が大幅に増加した。 As the business expanded, the required amount of working capital increased significantly.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, business, accounting, banking

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 運転 (unten — operation, running) and 資金 (shikin — capital, funds). The 運転 element likens daily business operation to the continuous running of a machine.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Business professionals