手取り

• Reading: てどり
• Romaji: tedori
• Kanji breakdown: 手 (te) — hand; 取 (tori) — take, receive
• Pronunciation: /te.do.ɾi/

Meaning

Take-home pay; net income after deductions such as taxes and insurance.

A noun referring to the actual amount of money one receives after all deductions (taxes, social insurance, pension contributions) have been subtracted from gross salary. Essential in discussions about salary and personal finance in Japan. The opposite concept is 額面 (gakumen, gross/face-value amount). Common expressions include 手取り○○万円 (take-home pay of XX ten-thousands of yen).

Examples

1. 手取りで月二十五万円ぐらいもらっている。 My take-home pay is about 250,000 yen a month.
2. 税金を引かれると手取りがかなり減る。 After taxes are deducted, your take-home pay drops quite a bit.
3. 手取りの額を見て生活費を計算している。 I calculate my living expenses based on my take-home amount.

Usage Guide

Context: salary, personal finance, job hunting, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 手 (te, hand) + 取り (tori, taking/receiving), from the verb 取る (to take). Literally 'what the hand takes,' meaning the actual amount that comes into one's possession after everything else has been deducted.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Working adults

Social background: Universal