金

• Reading: かね
• Romaji: kane
• Kanji breakdown: 金 (kane/kin) — gold, money, metal
• Pronunciation: /ka.ne/

Meaning

Money; gold; metal. The most common everyday word for money in Japanese.

A highly versatile noun with the primary everyday meaning of money (often with the polite prefix as お金). Also means gold as a metal or color, and metal in general. Appears in countless compounds: 金持ち (rich person), 金額 (amount of money), 金曜日 (Friday — gold day). One of the most frequently used words in daily life.

Examples

1. お金を貯めて旅行に行きたい。 I want to save up money and go on a trip.
2. 財布にお金が足りなかった。 I didn't have enough money in my wallet.
3. この指輪は金でできている。 This ring is made of gold.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, finance, shopping

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 金 originally depicted nuggets of metal buried in the earth, with a roof-like top and two dots representing nuggets. One of the most ancient kanji, central to commerce and daily life throughout East Asian history.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal