手当

• Reading: てあて
• Romaji: teate
• Kanji breakdown: 手 (te) — hand; 当 (ate) — hit, assign, allot
• Pronunciation: /te.a.te/

Meaning

Allowance; benefit; extra pay. Additional compensation beyond base salary for specific purposes.

A noun with multiple meanings, but in a business context it refers to supplementary pay or benefits. Common types include 住宅手当 (housing allowance), 通勤手当 (commuting allowance), 残業手当 (overtime pay), and 家族手当 (family allowance). These allowances are a significant part of the Japanese compensation structure and are often negotiated separately from base salary.

Examples

1. うちの会社は住宅手当が月3万円出る。 My company provides a housing allowance of 30,000 yen per month.
2. 残業手当が正しく支払われていないと感じた。 I felt that my overtime pay wasn't being calculated correctly.
3. 来年度から育児手当の支給額が増える予定だ。 The childcare allowance is set to increase starting next fiscal year.

Usage Guide

Context: business, human resources, compensation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From native Japanese: 手 (te, hand) + 当 (ate, allotment/assignment). Originally 'something assigned by hand' — later extended to mean compensation or treatment.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional