富裕層

• Reading: ふゆうそう
• Romaji: fuyuusou
• Kanji breakdown: 富 (fu) — rich, wealth; 裕 (yuu) — abundant, ample; 層 (sou) — layer, stratum
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.jɯː.soː/

Meaning

The wealthy; the rich; the affluent class of society.

A sociological noun referring to the wealthiest stratum of society. The counterpart to 貧困層 (the poor). Frequently appears in economic news, policy discussions, and marketing. In Japan, 富裕層 is often defined as households with net financial assets exceeding 100 million yen. Related terms include 超富裕層 (ultra-wealthy) and 中間層 (middle class).

Examples

1. 富裕層向けの高級マンションが次々と建設されている。 Luxury condominiums targeting the wealthy are being built one after another.
2. 富裕層と貧困層の格差が社会問題になっている。 The gap between the wealthy and the poor has become a serious social issue.
3. 富裕層は資産運用に積極的な傾向がある。 The wealthy tend to be actively engaged in managing their assets.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, sociology, news, marketing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 富裕 (fuyuu, wealth/affluence) + 層 (sou, layer/stratum). 富 means rich, 裕 means abundant/ample, and 層 denotes a social stratum.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated