通貨

• Reading: つうか
• Romaji: tsuuka
• Kanji breakdown: 通 (tsuu) — pass through, circulate; 貨 (ka) — goods, money
• Pronunciation: /tsɯː.ka/

Meaning

Currency. The money system used in a country or region.

A noun used in economic and financial contexts. Common compounds include 外国通貨 (gaikoku tsuuka, foreign currency), 仮想通貨 (kasou tsuuka, cryptocurrency), and 通貨危機 (tsuuka kiki, currency crisis). More formal and specific than お金 (okane, money), referring to a country's official monetary system.

Examples

1. 旅行前に現地の通貨に両替した。 I exchanged my money for the local currency before the trip.
2. ユーロはヨーロッパの共通通貨だ。 The euro is the common currency of Europe.
3. 仮想通貨に投資する人が増えている。 More and more people are investing in cryptocurrency.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, finance, travel

Tone: formal

Origin & History

Composed of 通 (tsuu, pass through/circulate) and 貨 (ka, goods/money). Literally 'circulating money' — currency that passes from hand to hand in trade.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal