交際費

• Reading: こうさいひ
• Romaji: kousaihi
• Kanji breakdown: 交 (kō) — intersect, mix; 際 (sai) — occasion; 費 (hi) — expense, cost
• Pronunciation: /koː.sai.hi/

Meaning

Entertainment expenses; socialising costs. Money spent on business entertainment or social obligations.

A noun for expenses incurred through social or business entertaining — dining clients, gift-giving, attending events. In Japanese tax law, 交際費 has a specific definition as a deductible business expense. Also used more casually for personal social spending. Common phrases: 交際費がかさむ (entertainment costs pile up), 交際費で落とす (to write off as entertainment expense).

Examples

1. 今月は歓迎会が多くて交際費がかさんでしまった。 We had a lot of welcome parties this month, so entertainment expenses really piled up.
2. 会社の交際費で取引先との食事代を支払った。 I paid for the client dinner using the company's entertainment budget.
3. 交際費の使いすぎに注意するようにと言われた。 I was told to watch my spending on entertainment expenses.

Usage Guide

Context: business, accounting, tax

Tone: professional

Origin & History

Compound of 交際 (social interaction, association) + 費 (expense, cost). 交際 itself combines 交 (intersect, mix) + 際 (occasion, edge).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Business