利子

• Reading: りし
• Romaji: rishi
• Kanji breakdown: 利 (ri) — profit, interest, benefit; 子 (shi) — child, offspring
• Pronunciation: /ɾi.ɕi/

Meaning

Interest. The charge or return on a financial deposit or loan, expressed as a percentage of the principal.

A noun referring to interest in financial contexts. Nearly synonymous with 利息 (risoku), though 利子 is slightly more common in everyday conversation while 利息 appears more in formal banking documents. Common collocations include 利子がつく (interest accrues), 利子を払う (to pay interest), and 低利子 (low interest). Also used figuratively in the expression 利子をつけて返す (to return with interest, i.e. with extra).

Examples

1. 住宅ローンの利子だけで毎月かなりの額になる。 The interest alone on a home loan adds up to a significant amount each month.
2. この定期預金は利子が高くてお得だ。 This fixed deposit account has a high interest rate, so it's a good deal.
3. 借りたお金は利子をつけて返さなければならない。 You have to pay back borrowed money with interest.

Usage Guide

Context: banking, personal finance, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 利 (ri, profit/interest/benefit) + 子 (shi, child/offspring). Metaphorically, interest is the 'child' born from the principal — money generating more money.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal