会計

• Reading: かいけい
• Romaji: kaikei
• Kanji breakdown: 会 (kai) — meet, gather; 計 (kei) — measure, calculate
• Pronunciation: /ka.i.keː/

Meaning

Account; finance; bill. The managing of money or the act of paying at a restaurant or shop.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb. Has two common everyday uses: asking for the bill at a restaurant (会計をお願いします) and the professional field of accounting/finance (会計士 = accountant). Also used for organisational budgets and treasury roles. Very practical word that N3 learners encounter frequently when dining out.

Examples

1. すみません、会計をお願いします。 Excuse me, can I get the check please?
2. 彼女は会計の仕事をしている。 She works in accounting.
3. 会計が間違っていたので確認してもらった。 The bill was wrong, so I had them double-check it.

Usage Guide

Context: restaurants, business, finance

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 会 (kai, to meet/gather) and 計 (kei, to measure/calculate). Originally 'gathering and calculating' — tallying up collected amounts. Applied to both everyday bill-paying and professional finance.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal