増税

• Reading: ぞうぜい
• Romaji: zōzei
• Kanji breakdown: 増 (zō) — increase, add; 税 (zei) — tax
• Pronunciation: /zoːzeː/

Meaning

Tax increase; tax hike. A rise in the rate or scope of taxation imposed by the government.

A compound noun formed from 増 (increase) and 税 (tax). It appears constantly in political and economic discourse, often paired with 消費税増税 (consumption tax hike). The government's decision to implement 増税 typically triggers intense public debate about fiscal fairness and the social contract.

Examples

1. 消費税増税に反対する市民がデモを行った。 Citizens opposed to the consumption tax hike staged a protest.
2. 政府は財政再建のために段階的な増税を検討している。 The government is considering a phased tax increase to restore fiscal health.
3. 増税が中間層の生活に与える影響は無視できない。 The impact of the tax hike on the living standards of the middle class cannot be ignored.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, economics, news, public policy

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 増 (zō) — to increase, and 税 (zei) — tax. Both characters have deep roots in classical Chinese administrative vocabulary adopted into Japanese governance.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: General