現 金(げんきん)

げんきん

noun

cash, ready money

money

1. cash, ready money

Physical currency as opposed to credit.

現金(げんきん)で払(はら)う。

To pay in cash.

現金(げんきん)を持(も)っていない。

I don't have cash on me.

ATMで現金(げんきん)を下(お)ろした。

I withdrew cash from the ATM.

このお店(みせ)はカードが使(つか)えないので、現金(げんきん)が必要(ひつよう)だ。

This shop doesn't accept cards, so you need cash.

最近(さいきん)は現金(げんきん)を使(つか)う人(ひと)が減(へ)って、電子(でんし)マネーで払(はら)う人(ひと)が増(ふ)えた。

Recently, fewer people use cash and more people pay with electronic money.

現金(げんきん) refers to physical currency (bills and coins) as opposed to digital or credit-based payments.

Etymology

現(げん): present, current, actual
金(きん): money, gold

Common patterns

現金(げんきん)で払(はら)う (to pay in cash)
現金(げんきん)を引(ひ)き出(だ)す (to withdraw cash)
現金(げんきん)を下(お)ろす (to withdraw cash - colloquial)
現金(げんきん)払(はら)い (cash payment)
現金(げんきん)のみ (cash only)

Contrast with other payment methods

現金(げんきん): cash (physical money)
クレジットカード: credit card
電子(でんし)マネー: electronic money (Suica, PayPay, etc.)
振(ふ)り込(こ)み: bank transfer
小切手(こぎって): check

Cultural note

Japan has traditionally been a cash-heavy society, though digital payments have grown rapidly. Many small shops and restaurants still prefer 現金(げんきん).

Related Words

Compare: キャッシュレス (cashless (electronic payment))

Compare: クレジットカード (credit card)

Compare: 電子(でんし)マネー (electronic money)

Compare: 振込(ふりこみ) (bank transfer)

Compare: 小切手(こぎって) (check)

Compare: 金銭(きんせん) (money, cash)

Related: 手形(てがた) (promissory note)

Compare: 即金(そっきん) (cash payment)

Compare: マネー (money (financial/economic term))

core

Added 2026.1.11 16:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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