消費

• Reading: しょうひ
• Romaji: shouhi
• Kanji breakdown: 消 (shou) — to extinguish, to use up; 費 (hi) — expense, cost
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.çi/

Meaning

Consumption; expenditure; spending. The act of using up resources, goods, or money.

A noun and suru-verb meaning to consume or spend. 消費 is widely used in economics, daily life, and environmental contexts. Common collocations include 消費税 (consumption tax), 消費者 (consumer), and エネルギー消費 (energy consumption). As a suru-verb, 消費する means to consume or use up.

Examples

1. この国のエネルギー消費は年々増えている。 This country's energy consumption is increasing every year.
2. 消費者の意見を大切にしている会社だ。 It's a company that values consumer feedback.
3. 無駄な消費を減らすことが大事だと思う。 I think it's important to cut down on wasteful spending.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, environment, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 消 (to extinguish, to use up) and 費 (expense, cost). The combination means to use up or expend resources.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal