証券

• Reading: しょうけん
• Romaji: shouken
• Kanji breakdown: 証 (shō) — proof, evidence, certificate; 券 (ken) — ticket, certificate, bond
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.keɴ/

Meaning

Securities; bonds; certificates. Financial instruments that represent ownership or a claim on assets.

A noun covering various financial instruments including stocks, bonds, and other tradable assets. Most commonly encountered in 証券会社 (securities firm/brokerage), 証券取引所 (stock exchange), and 有価証券 (marketable securities). Essential vocabulary for finance and investing discussions in Japanese.

Examples

1. 大手の証券会社に口座を開設した。 I opened an account at a major brokerage firm.
2. 証券取引所の取引時間は朝9時からだ。 Trading hours at the stock exchange start at 9 a.m.
3. 父は若い頃から証券に興味を持っていた。 My father has been interested in securities since he was young.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, investing, business

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 証 (shō, proof/evidence) + 券 (ken, ticket/certificate). Literally 'proof certificate' — a document that certifies ownership or a financial claim.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional