Business & Economics

Introduction

Business Japanese becomes much more concrete at N2. This chapter covers the vocabulary of accounts, contracts, management, profit, risk, and the everyday language of companies and money.

These words matter not only in the workplace but also in newspapers, policy discussion, and any context where modern Japanese society talks about value and exchange.

Themes

All JLPT N2 Vocabulary in This Chapter (85)

1. アカウント アカウント Account. Refers to a user account for online services, banking, or social media.
2. 赤字 あかじ Deficit; being in the red. Describes a financial loss where expenses exceed income.
3. 運営する うんえいする To run; to manage; to operate. Used for managing organisations, services, or events.
4. 大手企業 おおてきぎょう Big corporation; major firm; leading company. Refers to large, well-known companies.
5. オーナー オーナー Owner, especially of a business. The person who owns and often oversees a shop, restaurant, or company.
6. 解雇 かいこ Dismissal; discharge; firing; layoff. The formal termination of employment.
7. 解雇する かいこする To fire; to dismiss from employment. The act of formally terminating someone from a position.
8. 外務省 がいむしょう Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Japanese government ministry responsible for diplomacy and international relations.
9. 肩書き かたがき Title; job title; position. A formal designation indicating rank or status, especially in business.
10. 株式 かぶしき Share; stock. A unit of ownership in a company, traded on stock exchanges.
11. 為替 かわせ Money order; draft; exchange. Refers to currency exchange or financial instruments for transferring money.
12. 還元する かんげんする To return profit; to give back. Used when companies return value to customers or shareholders.
13. 記述 きじゅつ Description; account; written statement. A formal or detailed written explanation of something.
14. 規約 きやく Agreement; rules; terms of service; bylaws. A set of formally established rules governing conduct.
15. 給与 きゅうよ Pay; salary; wages. The compensation an employee receives for work.
16. 業者 ぎょうしゃ Trader; dealer; vendor; contractor. A person or company engaged in a specific trade or business.
17. 業績 ぎょうせき Achievement; performance; results. The accomplishments or financial results of a business or individual.
18. 業務 ぎょうむ Business; work; operations; duties. The tasks and responsibilities involved in running a business.
19. 共有財産 きょうゆうざいさん Community property; shared assets. Property or assets owned jointly, especially between spouses.
20. 銀河 ぎんが Milky Way; galaxy. The band of stars visible in the night sky, or any galaxy in space.
21. 勤務時間 きんむじかん Working hours; office hours; business hours. The designated period during which employees work.
22. 金利 きんり Interest rate; interest. The cost of borrowing money or the return on savings.
23. 黒字 くろじ Surplus; being in the black. A financial state where income exceeds expenses.
24. 経過する けいかする To pass; to elapse. Describes the passing of time or the progression of events.
25. 経済政策 けいざいせいさく Economic policy. Government measures and strategies for managing the economy.
26. 決済する けっさいする To make payment; to settle a transaction. Used for completing financial payments or clearing accounts.
27. 決算 けっさん Settlement of accounts; financial results. The process of closing the books and reporting a company's financial performance.
28. 降格 こうかく Demotion; relegation; downgrading. A reduction in rank or status within an organisation.
29. 好況 こうきょう Economic boom; prosperous conditions; thriving business. A period of strong economic growth and activity.
30. 控除 こうじょ Deduction; subtraction. Most commonly refers to tax deductions that reduce taxable income.
31. 小売業 こうりぎょう Retail trade; retailing. The business of selling goods directly to consumers.
32. 雇用 こよう Employment; hiring. The act or state of employing workers.
33. 雇用する こようする To employ; to hire. To take on someone as a worker or staff member.
34. 債権 さいけん Credit; claim; receivable. A legal right to demand payment or performance from another party.
35. 財源 ざいげん Source of funds; financial resources. The origin of money used to fund projects or policies.
36. 採算 さいさん Profitability; profit calculation. Whether a business or project is financially worthwhile.
37. 財政 ざいせい Public finance; fiscal affairs. The management of government revenue and expenditure.
38. 財政赤字 ざいせいあかじ Budget deficit; fiscal deficit. When government spending exceeds revenue.
39. 債務 さいむ Debt; liabilities; obligation. A legal or contractual duty to pay or perform for another party.
40. 採用 さいよう Adoption; hiring; acceptance. Taking on a new employee, or adopting a plan, method, or proposal.
41. 産業廃棄物 さんぎょうはいきぶつ Industrial waste. Waste generated by businesses and industrial processes, subject to strict disposal regulations.
42. 残高 ざんだか Balance; remainder. The amount of money remaining in a bank account or financial account.
43. 仕入れ しいれ Purchasing; procurement; stocking. Buying goods or materials for resale or business use.
44. 資産 しさん Assets; property; fortune. Things of economic value owned by a person, company, or entity.
45. 実業家 じつぎょうか Businessperson; entrepreneur; captain of industry. Someone who runs or owns a business enterprise.
46. 実績 じっせき Track record; achievements; actual results. Concrete accomplishments or past performance.
47. 実務 じつむ Practical business; hands-on work. The actual day-to-day tasks and operations of a job.
48. 事務用品 じむようひん Office supplies; stationery. Items used for clerical and administrative work.
49. 車両 しゃりょう Vehicle; railway car; rolling stock. A wheeled vehicle, especially a train car or carriage.
50. 収益 しゅうえき Earnings; revenue; proceeds. Income generated from business activities or investments.
51. 就業規則 しゅうぎょうきそく Work regulations; rules of employment. The formal set of company rules governing working conditions.
52. 修業する しゅうぎょうする To apprentice; to train under a master; to pursue disciplined study or practice in a craft.
53. 就業する しゅうぎょうする To work; to be employed; to engage in work. Refers to the state or act of being in employment.
54. 純利益 じゅんりえき Net income; net profit. The profit remaining after all expenses, taxes, and deductions.
55. 証券 しょうけん Securities; bonds; certificates. Financial instruments that represent ownership or a claim on assets.
56. 昇進 しょうしん Promotion; advancement in rank. Moving up to a higher position within an organisation.
57. 所得 しょとく Income; earnings. The total amount of money earned, especially as used in tax and economic contexts.
58. 正規雇用 せいきこよう Regular employment; standard full-time employment with benefits and job security.
59. 税務署 ぜいむしょ Tax office; the local branch of the National Tax Agency where individuals and businesses file taxes.
60. 接待 せったい Corporate entertainment; treating clients or business partners to food, drinks, or outings.
61. 代表取締役 だいひょうとりしまりやく Representative director; managing director. The person legally authorised to represent a company externally.
62. 担保 たんぽ Collateral; security; guarantee. Assets pledged to secure a loan or obligation.
63. 賃金 ちんぎん Wages; pay. Monetary compensation received for labour, especially for hourly or manual work.
64. 通販 つうはん Mail order; online shopping; e-commerce. Purchasing goods remotely rather than in a physical shop.
65. 手当 てあて Allowance; benefit; extra pay. Additional compensation beyond base salary for specific purposes.
66. 土手 どて Embankment; levee; bank. A raised earthen wall built along rivers or coastlines for flood prevention.
67. 取締役 とりしまりやく Company director; board member. A person elected to the board to oversee company management.
68. 年収 ねんしゅう Annual income; yearly salary. The total amount earned in one year before or after taxes.
69. 配送業者 はいそうぎょうしゃ Delivery company; shipping company; courier service. A business that transports and delivers goods.
70. 配当 はいとう Dividend; allotment; distribution. A share of profits distributed to shareholders.
71. 販売促進 はんばいそくしん Sales promotion; activities designed to increase sales through special offers, campaigns, or marketing.
72. 非正規雇用 ひせいきこよう Irregular employment; non-standard employment. Part-time, contract, or temporary work without full benefits.
73. 不況 ふきょう Recession; economic depression; slump. A period of reduced economic activity and declining business.
74. 負債 ふさい Debt; liabilities. Money owed or financial obligations that must be repaid.
75. 報酬 ほうしゅう Remuneration; reward; compensation. Payment received for professional services or work performed.
76. 法人 ほうじん Corporation; legal entity. A legally recognised organisation with rights and obligations separate from its individual members.
77. 法務省 ほうむしょう Ministry of Justice. The Japanese government ministry responsible for civil affairs, immigration, human rights, and the legal system.
78. 牧畜 ぼくちく Livestock farming; stock-farming; cattle breeding. The raising of animals for agricultural purposes.
79. 密輸 みつゆ Smuggling; contraband trade. The illegal transportation of goods across national borders.
80. 融資 ゆうし Financing; loan. The provision of funds, typically by a financial institution, for business or personal purposes.
81. 融資する ゆうしする To provide a loan; to finance. To supply funds to a person or organisation, typically through a financial institution.
82. 融通する ゆうずうする To accommodate; to lend flexibly; to arrange. To provide money, goods, or assistance in a flexible manner.
83. 利子 りし Interest. The charge or return on a financial deposit or loan, expressed as a percentage of the principal.
84. 利潤 りじゅん Profit; returns. The financial gain from a business activity after deducting costs and expenses.
85. 利息 りそく Interest. The amount of money charged or earned on a loan or deposit over a period of time.